Redhawks softball picked to finish seventh

The Southeast Missouri State softball team was voted to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason poll.

The coaches picked defending champion Jacksonville State to top the nine-team conference standings for a third straight year. The Gamecocks collected eight first-place votes, while Tennessee Tech received the other first-place vote and finished second.

Morehead State was selected third, followed by Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri, Tennessee State and Austin Peay.

Turner receives honor

Southeast Missouri State junior Rikara Turner has been named the Midwest Independent Conference Gymnast of the week after winning the all-around competition in Saturday's home victory against Illinois-Chicago. Turner posted her season-high in the all-around with a 39.025, scoring 9.800 in the vault, 9.700 in the bars, a career-high 9.850 in the floor and 9.700 in the balance beam.

-- From staff reports