Redhawks volleyball climbs over .500 mark

For the first time all season, the Southeast Missouri State volleyball team has a winning record.

The Redhawks capped a climb from a 1-6 start against a rugged early schedule with Friday night's Ohio Valley Conference victory over visiting Tennessee Tech.

Southeast beat the Eaglettes 30-23, 30-22, 24-30, 30-23 as the Redhawks improved to 10-9 overall and 4-2 in OVC play. Tech is 4-14 and 1-4.

"It's nice," Southeast coach Renata Nowacki said of being above .500.

But Nowacki felt the Redhawks' performance left plenty to be desired.

"It was a not a feel-good win," she said. "I was disappointed with our hitting efficiency. We have to set a higher standard."

Six Southeast players reached double figures in kills, including freshmen Hannah Weis and Karleigh DeLong with 11 and 10, respectively.

Brittany Hastings led the way with 14 kills, Brenna Schlader had 13, Jessica Koeper 11 and Jamie Baumstark 10.

Koeper and Baumstark both posted double-doubles, as Koeper had 12 digs and Baumstark recorded 52 assists.

Freshman Molly Davis led the way in digs with 16, and Sirma Ozenir added 12 digs.

Erin Lynn had 16 kills for Tech.

Southeast concludes its three-match homestand Tuesday night with a nonleague contest against Missouri State.

Soccer falls on road

Before this season, the Southeast women's soccer team had never lost to Austin Peay.

In fact, the Redhawks had not even allowed a goal to the Governors, winning the four meetings by a combined score of 12-0.

But both streaks ended Friday night as Austin Peay stunned Southeast 2-1 in overtime in Clarksville, Tenn.

Southeast fell to 5-6 overall and 2-2 in OVC play, as the Redhawks' hopes of winning the regular-season conference title took a serious hit.

Austin Peay, coached by former Southeast assistant Kelly Guth, improved to 6-6-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the league.

The Redhawks took a 1-0 lead just 9 minutes, 46 seconds into the game on an unassisted goal by Alaina Lacopo.

Austin Peay tied the score at the 24:16 mark of the first half and that's the way it stood though 90 minutes of regulation.

Then, just 22 seconds into overtime, Ashley Beck scored an unassisted goal after a Southeast miscue for the sudden-death victory.

Southeast had a 17-11 advantage in shots and, according to the statistics, Redhawks' keeper Lindsay Pickering did not make a save. Govs' keeper Brooke Abrahams had seven saves.

Southeast returns to action Sunday at Tennessee Tech.

Cross country at SIU

The Southeast men's and women's cross country teams will race today in the Southern Illinois Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill. The women's 5K will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 10:45.

Squads competing with the Redhawks and host Salukis are Arkansas State, Creighton, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, Murray State, Evansville, Illinois, Missouri-Kansas City, St. Louis University and Southern Indiana.

Southeast's men are coming off a strong showing last weekend at the Greater Louisville Classic, finishing ninth among 36 teams in their division while placing ahead of regionally ranked Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Tennessee-Chattanooga.