VOLLEYBALL: OTAHKS IMPROVE TO 15-0 IN OVC

The streaking Southeast Missouri State Otahkian volleyball team blitzed another conference foe at Houck Fieldhouse on Wednesday to close in on a perfect Ohio Valley Conference season.

The Otahkians captured their eighth Ohio Valley Conference regular season title in the past 10 years on Saturday and showed no signs of complacency Wednesday in a straight-set victory over Austin Peay. Southeast defeated the Lady Governors, 15-8, 15-8, 15-9.

"This team amazes me," said coach Cindy Gannon, who has built an OVC dynasty at Southeast. "They'll come out and I never can get a read on them, but we always seem to get the job done. They're not a real emotional team; they just play with a lot of consistency."

Consistency, for sure. The Otahkians (19-8) are now 15-0 in OVC play this season and need just a victory over Tennessee State on Saturday to finish their conference regular season undefeated. Twelve of the 15 wins have been by sweeps and the Otahkians have dropped just three sets overall in conference play.

Southeast also has a 34-game OVC regular season win streak and a stretch of 29 straight wins at Houck Fieldhouse.

The Otahkians rank eighth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Midwest District Poll.

Austin Peay fell to 17-13 overall and 8-7 in the conference.

Whether finding open spots in the Lady Governors' defense or simply overpowering them at the net, Southeast jumped to an early 9-0 lead in game one. Austin Peay made a run to cut the lead to 12-8, but could get no closer as Southeast closed out the contest with three straight points.

In game two, with Southeast's standout outside hitter Lea Beckemeyer dominating early, the Otahkians again pounded the Lady Governors at the net. Freshman setter Emily Scannell aced the game-winning point after another mini-rally by Austin Peay fell short.

The final contest looked very much like the other two with Southeast gaining a commanding 9-0 lead. But, again the Lady Governors made a nice run to tie the game at 9, before the host reeled off six straight points to capture the game and the match.

Leading the way for the Otahkians was Krista Haukap with another double-double, 20 kills and 21 digs. Beckemeyer fell one short of her career high with 26 kills. Senior middle blocker Rachelle Knapp had a solid performance with 12 kills and nine digs, while Scannell recorded 58 assists, eight digs and three kills.

Some of the younger, less heralded players like sophomore Emily Johnson, eight kills, and junior Lori Lange, 14 digs and four kills, stepped up for the Otahkians.

"That's what we need them to do," said Gannon. "Obviously, everyone is looking at Krista and Lea and gearing their defenses around them. So when our other kids step up, that just makes us better."

After Saturday's match, Southeast will host the OVC Tournament at Houck on Nov. 17-18. The winner advances to the NCAA Tournament.