Redhawks will run in OVC meet this weekend

~ Samford's women and Eastern Kentucky's men enter as heavy favorites.

Southeast Missouri State cross country teams will both seek upper division finishes when the Ohio Valley Conference Championships are run Saturday in Charleston, Ill.

Eastern Illinois will serve as the host, with the men's 8,000-meter race beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the women's 5,000-meter race at 11 a.m.

"Our women are shooting for the top three, and our men are shooting for the top five," Southeast coach Eric Heins said. "We're looking for good performances."

Southeast's women have finished third the past two seasons. Defending champion Samford rates as the heavy favorite after posting a perfect score last year by having the top five runners.

"They only lost one girl, so they'll be really tough to beat," Heins said. "Our women have done well this year, and I think we'll battle Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois for the next spots."

The Redhawks have been led by senior Jen Caywood and junior Lindsay Zeiler, who won the OVC cross country title as a freshman in 2002 but missed the last two seasons with injuries.

Caywood, ninth in the conference meet last year, has won the OVC runner of the week award twice this season.

Southeast's other top runners this year have been freshmen Amy Warren, Brittni Peck and Juli Koenegstein.

"With Lindsay and Jen running as well as they are, if they can get in the top seven, and if the other three can be in the top 25, we can finish at least third," Heins said.

Heins had originally hoped Southeast's men could also place in the top three, but some key injuries will likely prevent that.

Sophomores Brandon Karcher and Kevin McNab, two of the Redhawks' top runners, have missed the year with injuries, although they should be healthy for the track season.

Senior Gabe Lutes, 12th in last year's OVC meet, and sophomore Danny Stults have been the Redhawks' leaders.

Junior Chris Herron has been Southeast's third runner most of the year, followed by juniors Kirk Nesbit and Brad DeMattei.

"Eastern Kentucky [the defending champion] is definitely the favorite," Heins said. "We started out hoping for top three, but realistically, now I'd say fourth or fifth."

Volleyball has key match

Southeast's volleyball team will try to extend its OVC winning streak and also continue its climb up the conference standings this weekend.

The Redhawks (11-13, 7-3 OVC) are in fifth place in the 11-team league, but just two games out of first. They have posted four straight league victories.

Southeast plays at OVC co-leader Tennessee State (17-8, 9-1) tonight, then visits Austin Peay (8-15, 4-6) Saturday afternoon.

"We've still got a chance to finish first or second," said Southeast coach Renata Nowacki, whose squad hosts the other OVC co-leader, Eastern Illinois, Wednesday night. "The Tennessee State match is huge."

Soccer regular-season finale

Southeast's women's soccer team will play its final regular-season home match tonight when South Dakota State visits Houck Stadium for a 7 p.m. start.

The Redhawks (11-5-1) are coming off Wednesday's 3-0 win over visiting Arkansas-Little Rock and will be heavily favored to beat South Dakota State (4-11-1).

Southeast will have one more home match remaining following tonight, as the Redhawks host Jacksonville State Tuesday night in the first round of the OVC Tournament.