Southeast volleyball: Redhawks grab title despite dropping match

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday but still won a championship.

Despite falling to Evansville 25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24, the Redhawks were awarded the Memphis Invitational title.

Three of the four tournament squads finished 2-1 and Southeast garnered first place based on point differential.

Southeast junior Emily Hughes was the tournament MVP, while senior teammates Karleigh DeLong and Sarah Barth also netted all-tournament honors.

Hughes led the Redhawks (2-1) with a career-high 24 kills in the loss to Evansville. It was her third straight double-figure kill match to start the season.

DeLong also recorded her third straight double-digit kill match, finishing with 10. She added 16 digs for her second double-double.

Freshman Karlee Lursen recorded her second collegiate double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs.

Senior Molly Davis recorded a match-high 20 digs.

Barth, Southeast's setter, handed out a match-high 54 assists and chipped in 11 digs for her second double-double.

Southeast downed host Memphis 26-24, 25-20, 25-18 earlier Saturday.

Hughes led with 14 kills and DeLong had 10. Davis came up with 15 digs and Barth recorded 37 assists.

Southeast returns to action Friday at the Belmont Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.