Scannell, Johnson earn awards; Otahks prepare for Austin Peay

Southeast Missouri State University filled two spots on the all-Ohio Valley Conference volleyball first team announced Tuesday -- and later this week the Otahkians hope to bring home the OVC's ultimate prize.

The Otahkians are the No. 3 seed for the six-team conference tournament that begins Thursday and runs through Saturday in Martin, Tenn. The winner earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

"We're playing very well right now and we're focused," Southeast coach Cindy Gannon said. "I think we've got as good a chance as anybody to win it."

In Tuesday's voting by the OVC volleyball coaches, junior setter Emily Scannell and senior middle blocker/outside hitter Emily Johnson made the all-conference first team from Southeast.

Scannell, a second-team selection last year after being the league's rookie of the year in 1999, leads the conference and ranks nationally in assists with 12.88 per game. She has reached 60 assists in a match three times and has helped to lead Southeast to a league-high .237 attack average.

Johnson, a member of the All-OVC newcomer team in 1999, is fifth in the conference in digs per game (3.96) and ranks seventh in both hitting percentage (.278) and kills per game (3.96). Johnson has recorded 16 double-doubles on the season, including eight in a row at one point.

Southeast senior outside hitter Bobbi Carlile made the second team for the second year in a row. She leads the team and ranks sixth in the OVC in kills per game (4.15).

Another Otahkian, outside hitter Jill Miller, is on the league's all-freshman team. She leads the OVC in aces per game (0.45).

As for the tournament, the third-seeded Otahkians (18-11, 13-3 OVC) play No. 6 Austin Peay (10-19, 6-10) at 7 p.m. Thursday, following a 4 p.m. match between No. 4 Murray State (11-11, 10-6) and No. 5 Eastern Kentucky (12-17, 6-10).

No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Tennessee-Martin (22-5, 15-1) received a bye into Friday's semifinals, as did No. 2 seed Morehead State (20-11, 13-3). The championship match is 1 p.m. Saturday.

Southeast tied with Morehead State for second place in the regular season but lost both matches to the Eagles, who the Otahkians would face in the semifinals if they get past Austin Peay. Southeast swept Austin Peay this year.

"They're a good team, but we feel like we can beat them," Gannon said of Morehead State. "I think any of the top four seeds for certain have an opportunity to win it. Everybody has finished strong. I think it's up for grabs."

The Otahkians, who won three straight OVC Tournament titles before losing in last year's semifinals and finishing with a disappointing 15-14 record, have regrouped this season and enter the tournament with a streak of 12 wins in their last 14 matches.

"We've been on a winning streak for a while," Gannon said. "There's no reason to believe we can't go down there and come out a winner."

mmishow@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 132