Southeast Missouri State volleyball splits opening day of home invitational

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team opened up its Redhawks Invitational by splitting two contests on Day 1 of competition at the Show Me Center.

Southeast topped New Orleans 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-11) before falling to Illinois Chicago 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-17).

After the first day, New Orleans is 0-2 while UIC is 2-0.

The Redhawks earned a victory in the opener despite dropping the first set. A seven-point rally behind Jessica McElderry and Krissa Gearing in the second game spurred a SEMO rebound, with Gearing posting eight kills in the set.

Former Woodland standout Rachel Poole had 14 assists in the game and 25 in her Redhawks debut.

Southeast took advantage of Privateer mistakes in the third game and then controlled the fourth by jumping out to a 20-11 lead.

In the fourth and final set, senior Jade Mortimer earned her 1,000th career dig. She finished the match with 19 digs and five assists.

Gearring's final total was 26 kills and 10 digs. All-Ohio Valley Conference preseason pick Nzingha Clarke had eight kills and two blocks.

Against Illinois-Chicago, the hosts took an early lead before the Flames chipped away, forcing a tie at 20 before edging Southeast.

After UIC took the second set, the Redhawks avoided a sweep thanks to a five-point run to erase a 22-20 deficit.

The Flames polished things off in the fourth game.

Gearring had 18 kills and 10 digs for SEMO, while Mortimer had 21 digs and Pool had 31 assists.

Southeast finishes off the Invitational against Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m. today.

— Staff reports