Redhawks volleyball wins tourney finale

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team broke a five-match losing streak Saturday by salvaging a win in its final contest at the Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill.

Southeast (3-6) swept Mississippi State (8-2) 25-22, 25-20, 30-28.

Southeast lost to host SIU (8-1) 25-18, 23-25, 25-13, 25-19 earlier Saturday after a 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 loss to South Florida (3-5) on Friday.

The Redhawks' three tournament opponents have a combined 19-8 record.

Senior Claire Keaton led Southeast against Mississippi State with 17 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Karlee Lursen recorded 14 kills and nine digs. Freshman setter Julie Shives had 41 assists and 11 digs. Senior Kelly Benacka, named to the all-tournament team, led Southeast with 19 digs. Senior Meagan Webb had 16 digs.

Lursen led Southeast against SIU with 12 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Emily Coon had 10 kills.

Keaton added nine kills and 13 digs. Benacka led in digs with 19, followed by Webb with 16. Shives recorded 32 assists to go with eight kills and nine digs.

Keaton had seven kills and 10 digs against South Florida. Shives recorded 23 assists.

Soccer falls at home

The Southeast soccer team had gone nine straight home games without a loss dating back to last season before falling to Ball State in overtime Sept. 5.

The Redhawks lost their second straight home game Friday night, a 3-2 setback to Stetston (Fla.) University.

Alex Hermosa's deflected shot from the top of the box in the 63rd minute proved to be the game-winning goal for the Hatters (3-4).

The Redhawks, trailing 1-0 at halftime, tied it on sophomore Ali Bauer's first goal of the season. Junior Shona Goodwin earned an assist.

Southeast (3-3) fell behind 2-1 before Lauren Bozesky's free kick in the 58th minute forged a 2-2 tie.

It was the first goal for Bozesky, a graduate student who transferred from Saint Louis University, at Southeast.

Hermosa netted her goal about five minutes later.

Southeast held a 24-16 advantage in shots and a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.

Southeast freshman Jessica Grindstaff, making her first collegiate start in goal, made four saves.

The Redhawks begin a string of four straight road games Friday at Western Kentucky.

-- From staff reports