SEMO roundup: Southeast volleyball handed first OVC losses

Southeast Missouri State's Ohio Valley Conference volleyball showdown at Morehead State Friday night did not go the way the Redhawks had hoped.

Neither did the entire weekend.

Two-time defending OVC regular-season champion Morehead swept visiting Southeast 26-24, 25-22, 25-18 to hand the Redhawks their first conference loss of the year.

The match between the respective OVC division leaders, who were both undefeated in league play held special significance because the overall OVC champion hosts the conference tournament. Friday's contest is the only regular-season meeting between the teams.

Southeast then completed a winless road swing Saturday, falling at Eastern Kentucky 19-25, 27-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-8.

The Redhawks, who still lead the OVC West Division, are 16-9 overall and 8-2 in OVC play.

Morehead (18-6, 10-0) rallied to win Friday's first two games before closing out the match.

Junior outside hitter Colleen Yarber led Southeast with a double-double of 10 kills and 12 digs.

Junior setter Julie Shives also recorded a double-double with 23 assists and 10 digs.

Junior libero Berkley Idel had 15 digs and junior middle blocker Emily Coon added five blocks.

Coon led Southeast with 18 kills against Eastern Kentucky (7-13, 4-6). She also had seven blocks.

Yarber and Shives both again had double-doubles. Yarber posted 15 kills and 16 digs while Shives had 51 assists and 13 digs.

Idel led the Redhawks in digs with 27. Senior libero Samantha Lowman added 19 digs and senior outside hitter Karlee Lursen had 15.

Redshirt freshman middle blocker Taylor Masterson added nine kills and five blocks.

The Redhawks have a nonconference match Tuesday at Missouri-Kansas City before resuming OVC play Friday at home against SIU Edwardsville.

Soccer

Southeast and host Belmont battled to a 0-0 tie Friday in Nashville, Tenn.

The Redhawks (4-9-4 overall, 3-3-2 OVC) extended their unbeaten streak to three games after their school-record sixth overtime contest of the season.

Southeast outshot Belmont (7-6-3, 3-2-2) 16-15 through the 90 minutes of regulation and the 20 minutes of overtime.

Senior goalkeeper Renee Kertz recorded seven saves for Southeast to notch the shutout.

The Redhawks return to action Friday at Tennessee Tech.

-- From staff reports