Southeast roundup: Redhawks qualify for OVC soccer tourney

The Southeast Missouri State soccer team broke a two-game losing streak and clinched an Ohio Valley Conference tournament berth in the process.

Southeast slipped past defending OVC tournament champion and league preseason favorite Murray State 2-1 on Friday in Murray, Ky.

The Redhawks, who failed to make the OVC tournament the past two years, locked up one of the six berths and pulled into a second-place tie in the nine-team league. Morehead State already has clinched the OVC regular-season title.

The Redhawks, who improved to 8-7 overall and 4-3 in OVC play, reached a season-high for goals in a conference game. They had been shut out in their previous two league contests.

Sophomore Bobbi Jo Schlick, a Jackson High School graduate who led Southeast with six goals last year, got her first goal of the season in the ninth minute. Graduate student Lauren Bozesky and freshman Taylor Byrd assisted.

Senior Ashley Runion got her team-leading seventh goal in the 60th minute to put Southeast ahead 2-0. Freshman Stephanie Palmer recorded an assist.

Murray (4-11-3, 3-3-1) scored in the closing minutes but could not push across the equalizer.

The Redhawks had a 9-6 advantage in shots.

Southeast concludes OVC play today with a 2 p.m. home game against Tennessee-Martin. A win would clinch the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament, which means a first-round bye.

Volleyball loses

The Southeast volleyball team continued to struggle, being swept at home Friday night by Eastern Illinois 25-20, 25-18, 25-13.

Southeast fell to 5-16 overall and 2-8 in the OVC as the Redhawks now are last in the 10-team conference.

Freshman setter Julie Shives dished out 17 assists. Senior Kelly Benacka led in digs with 16, followed by senior Claire Keaton with 10. Senior Emily Hughes had a team-high seven kills.

Southeast hosts Murray State on Tuesday night.

The Racers feature three former local high school standouts: Ashley Nenninger from Notre Dame, Wendi Zickfield from Central and Casey Bucher from Leopold.

Nenninger, a senior, is the Racers' leader in kills. Zickfield and Bucher are redshirt freshmen.

Tuesday will mark the Redhawks' final match in the "Dig for Life" campaign that raises money for breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink.

-- From staff reports