Southeast Missouri State volleyball team holds off EKU in five sets

Southeast won the first two sets and then survived the Colonels' comeback bid

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team cooled off red-hot Eastern Kentucky Thursday night to climb back above the .500 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.

It was a bit more difficult than the first two sets indicated it might be, but the host Redhawks weren't complaining following their 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 20-25, 15-9 victory at Houck Field House.

Southeast improved to 13-11 overall and 5-4 in the OVC by winning for the fourth time in its last five matches. EKU (12-13, 4-5) had its five-match winning streak snapped.

"We came out really strong the first two [sets]. They made a nice little comeback. They're a good team," senior middle blocker Emily Coon said. "But we took care of business."

Southeast Missouri State's Taylor Masterson spikes past Eastern Kentucky's Julia Mindlina, left, Rachel Vick and Abbey Cvelbar during the fourth set Thursday at Houck Field House. Southeast won in five sets. (FRED LYNCH)

The Redhawks were dominant in winning the first two sets. They never trailed and there was only one tie, at 1-1 in the opening frame.

Southeast also grabbed an early lead in the third set as it looked like the Redhawks might be on their way to a sweep.

But the Colonels had other ideas. They rallied to win the third set that featured five ties and three lead changes, then also took the fourth set that included eight ties and four lead changes.

"I think they really stepped up their game. It took us a while to step up our game again," senior libero Berkley Idel said.

Southeast coach Julie Yankus said the Redhawks might have let up, but she wasn't about to take anything away from the Colonels.

"Subconsciously you probably let up a little bit, even though you stress so much to push harder," Yankus said. "And they [EKU] turned it up as well."

While EKU appeared to have all the momentum, Southeast could take comfort in the fact it had lost just one five-set match all season.

That trend continued Thursday as the Redhawks improved to 7-1 in five-setters. They also are 5-1 at home.

"I hate going to five, but at least when we go to five we're pretty confident," Yankus said.

EKU grabbed an early 5-3 lead in the deciding set before Southeast took control.

A kill by sophomore middle blocker Taylor Masterson put the Redhawks up for good at 7-6 and they won going away.

"We're really good in five-set matches. We get very confident in the fifth set," Coon said.

Junior outside hitter Andrea Baylin led Southeast in kills with 15 while adding 16 digs.

Masterson had 12 kills with a season-high .611 attack percentage. She also recorded four blocks. Coon added 10 kills.

Idel led the Redhawks in digs with 23, followed by senior outside hitter Colleen Yarber with 14 to go along with eight kills.

Senior setter Julie Shives had 25 assists and 12 digs while freshman setter Katarina Rotta contributed 18 assists.

Junior middle blocker Kelsey Keeve recorded a match-high five blocks. Freshman Madalyn Werths chipped in with seven kills, the most in her young collegiate career.

Coon was recognized before the match for recently joining the 1,000-kill club at Southeast. She received the game ball from the Oct. 16 win over Saint Louis in which she recorded her 1,000th career kill.

"It's an awesome thing. I couldn't do it without my girls behind me," said Coon, who sits just outside the top 10 in career kills at Southeast while ranking among the top 10 in career blocks.

Yankus, who presented Coon with the commemorative ball, said: "It's a very good accomplishment. I'm very happy she could do that, and I was proud to honor her with the game ball. She's had a great career."

Among other recent milestones for the Redhawks, Idel moved into the top 10 in career digs while Shives went over 4,000 career assists. She ranks fifth in program history.

The Redhawks are right back in action at home today with a chance to snap the nation's longest active conference winning streak.

Three-time defending OVC regular-season champion Morehead State (17-6, 8-0) has posted 30 consecutive league victories entering the 6:30 p.m. contest at Houck Field House.

"Another really great team. It's definitely going to test our ability," Coon said. "It would be a great accomplishment if we could beat them."

Added a smiling Yankus: "I want that streak broken."