Southeast runners bring home women's title

The Southeast Missouri State women's cross country team won its second meet title in as many tries Friday.

Competing at the Panther Open hosted by Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill., Southeast scored 49 points to edge Southern Illinois (52).

Western Illinois (56) finished third in the seven-team event.

The Redhawks, who won a meet hosted by Southern Indiana in its season opener, were again led by junior Juli Koenegstein.

Koenegstein, second at Southern Indiana, won the Panther Open by covering the 5K course in 17 minutes, 51.78 seconds. She finished 20 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Southeast's other four runners who comprised the Redhawks' team score all placed among the top 17.

Freshman Brandi Gervais was fifth (18:24.57), freshman Monica Noble was 11th (18:47.48), sophomore Amy Warren was 15th (19:05.83) and freshman Laura Gosen finished 17th (19:10.45).

Southeast's men wound up fifth with 116 points. Southern Illinois (25) rolled to the title.

Leading the Redhawks was freshman Brandon Funderburk, who was eighth (25:46.97) in the 8K race.

Also in the top 25 for the Redhawks were two more freshmen: Jason Lumpkin (19th, 26:36.72) and Chris Loseman (21st, 26:40.12).

Volleyball team wins

Less than 24 hours after dropping a five-game match, the Southeast volleyball team came out on the winner's side of a five-game marathon Saturday.

Southeast defeated host Tennessee Tech, 25-30, 30-24, 24-30, 30-24, 15-13, to improve to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Karleigh DeLong led the Redhawks with 28 kills, 25 digs and four blocks. Claire Keaton added 16 kills and 26 digs while Brittany Hastings had 15 kills.

Sarah Barth had 62 assists and 16 digs for the Redhawks.

-- From staff reports