Redhawks face bumpy season

The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis team faces a challenging season with only two healthy scholarship players.

Southeast went 5-15 last year, including 2-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Redhawks graduated record-setting twins Bryce and Drew Kristal, who anchored the top of the lineup.

Returning players are senior Julia Masotti and junior Elise Nattier, who will fill the top two spots.

Junior Alyce Kelly also is back but suffered a broken ankle during a fall on ice just before Christmas break and is out for the year.

Third-year coach Mark Elliott said his top two recruits for this season -- both Russians -- unexpectedly turned professional just before school started in August.

Several other anticipated recruits also fell through, Elliott said, so he's filled the rest of the roster with six walk-ons he found during open tryouts.

"It's going to be a very challenging year," said Elliott, whose squad plays its first match today at Bradley. "But I've already got several players lined up for next year. We'll be a lot better then."

Among the walk-ons is junior Kara True from Charleston.

Rounding out the squad are junior Erika Seabaugh, along with freshmen Valentina Emiliani-Segrera, Anna LeBoeuf, Sarah Pettigrew and Rebecca Volle.

Southeast's first OVC match is March 8 at Jacksonville State. The Redhawks' home opener is March 10 vs. IPFW.

Track fares well

Southeast track athletes won 11 of 27 events during Friday's Redhawks Invitational at the Student Recreation Center.

No team scores were kept in the meet that included Memphis and Murray State.

Paul Stemmerman set a school record in the indoor 1,000 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 27.60 seconds, while Dustin Davis set a Rec Center record in the 3,000 (8:54.68).

Also finishing first for the men were Central product Tyler Terry in the long jump (24-1 1/2), Cody Martin in the mile (4:31.70), Yemi Oduwele in the 55 (6.45) and Joel Krause in the 800 (1:59.29).

Jackson product Rachel Kahle was a double winner on the women's side, in the long jump (19-1 1/4) and 55 (7.16).

Other winners for the women were Central product Linnea Woldtvedt in the mile (5:31.80), Whitney Thomas in the 55 hurdles (8.27) and Monica Noble in the 3,000 (10:56.08).

Southeast competes in the OVC indoor championships Friday and Saturday in Charleston, Ill.