Southeast Missouri State volleyball team wins final home match

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team played its final home match Tuesday night.

Fittingly, the Redhawks' four seniors went out with a bang as Southeast beat Tennessee-Martin 26-24, 26-24, 25-9 to avenge a recent road loss.

Southeast improved to 16-15 overall and 8-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Skyhawks fell to 9-22 and 3-12.

"It was a great way for the seniors to end their careers at home. They all played amazing," Southeast coach Julie Yankus said.

Southeast's four seniors have been among the squad's leaders all season, and that trend continued Tuesday at Houck Field House with two of them reaching notable career milestones.

Senior outside hitter Colleen Yarber powered home a match-high 16 kills to go along with 10 digs and three service aces.

Yarber entered the night needing 11 kills to reach 1,000 for her career. She hoped to achieve that at home and did so with several to spare.

Southeast Missouri State's Emily Coon blocks a shot from Tennessee-Martin hitter Emily Keaton during the first game of the Redhawks match against the Skyhawks on Tuesday at Houck Field House.LAURA SIMONlsimon@semissourian.com

"I really wanted to do it at home," said Yarber, a graduate of Freeburg (Ill.) High School in the greater St. Louis area. "It's been an awesome ride. ... I got a little emotional before the match."

Senior setter Julie Shives dished out 40 assists, allowing her to surpass 4,500 career assists in her final home match. She ranks fifth on the school's career assists list with 4,527.

"I couldn't have asked for a better win to end with," said Shives, from Grove City, Ohio. "All four of us have become great leaders. It's been really fun to play with them."

Before the third game, Yankus presented Yarber and Shives the volleyballs they used to reach the 1,000-kill club and 4,500-assist club, respectively.

"It was great for a couple of the seniors to reach big milestones here," Yankus said.

Senior libero Berkley Idel just missed joining the 1,500-dig club in her final home match. She recorded 22 digs, giving her 1,498 for her career. That's sixth in program history.

"It's definitely bittersweet. It's definitely sad, my last time it's going to be match point on this floor," said Idel, a graduate of Lafayette High School in suburban St. Louis. "But it was such a great final game to leave with, 25-9. The seniors have all had major accomplishments. We've worked so hard."

That includes senior middle blocker Emily Coon, who on Monday was named OVC offensive player of the week for her performance in two matches over the weekend.

Coon, who earlier this year recorded her 1,000th career kill, recorded eight kills Tuesday. Her 1,092 career kills are just outside the program's top 10 list, but she ranks eighth in school history with 480 total blocks and sixth with 365 block assists.

Fans cheer on the Redhawks at the beginning of their match against Tenessee-Martin on Tuesday. It was the final home match of the season for Southeast.

"The last time in Houck playing a game. ... It was definitely an emotional game, but it was a lot of fun," said Coon, a graduate of Seckman High School in the St. Louis area. "I'm very pleased with my career. I couldn't have asked for a better team to play with. I'm really going to miss playing with my teammates."

The seniors have all been key four-year contributors, including last year when Southeast won the OVC West Division title.

"They've had amazing careers," Yankus said.

The seniors got plenty of help Tuesday, including from junior outside hitter Andrea Baylin, who would have been a member of the senior class had she not redshirted last year due to an injury. Baylin recorded eight kills and 12 digs.

Sophomore middle blocker Taylor Masterson added seven kills and three blocks.

Tennessee-Martin played Southeast tough in the first two games.

The opening game was tied 24-24 before Coon powered home consecutive kills for the 26-24 victory. The Skyhawks led 24-21 in the second game before Southeast scored the final five points, Baylin's kill resulting in another 26-24 win.

Southeast then romped in the third game.

"The girls came out great that last set," Coon said. "We showed them what SEMO is all about."

Southeast's campaign has not gone nearly as well as last year. The OVC West Division preseason favorite Redhawks won't be able to repeat their division title, but the Redhawks hope to keep building momentum for a possible run in next week's OVC tournament in Morehead, Ky.

The Redhawks, who can still finish as high as tied for second in the West Division, will carry a two-match winning streak into their final regular-season contest Saturday at Tennessee Tech.

"We just want to peak at the right time," Yankus said. "Hopefully that's the case for us."