The road-weary Southeast Missouri State volleyball team started its Ohio Valley Conference season strong over the weekend.

Southeast opened OVC play with two road victories. It beat Eastern Illinois 19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21 Friday and SIU Edwardsville 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 Saturday.

The Redhawks, who have played their first 16 matches away from Cape Girardeau, are 10-6.

"It is very important to take the OVC openers and show we are ready to compete at the top of the conference," Southeast coach Julie Folliard said in a release.

Senior Brittney Kalinoski posted career highs of 18 kills and 24 digs while hitting .375 against Eastern Illinois.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Masterson had a career-high 13 kills while junior Colleen Yarber matched Kalinoski by recording a double-double with 13 kills and 16 digs.

Junior setter Julie Shives dished out 44 assists. Junior Berkley Idel recorded 21 digs, senior Samantha Lowman added 10 digs and junior Emily Coon posted six blocks.

It was Yarber's turn for a career performance against SIUE as her 22 kills represent her high collegiate output. She added 16 digs and hit .327.

Idel led Southeast with 25 digs while Shives recorded a season-high 50 assists to go along with 10 digs.

Kalinoski and sophomore Kelsey Keeve added 10 kills apiece. Keeve hit a team-high .588.

Lowman had 11 digs and Masterson recorded nine blocks. Keeve added six blocks.

Southeast finally opens its home schedule Tuesday when Tennessee-Martin visits Houck Field House for a 6:30 p.m. OVC match.

The Redhawks then venture back out on the road for one match before having five consecutive home contests.

Cross country

Southeast, after placing first with both its men and women during its first two meets of the season, took only three runners to Saturday's Saluki Invitational in Carbondale, Ill.

Jackson High School graduate Tyson Stoverink finished 31st with a time of 29 minutes, 24 seconds over the eight-kilometer course. Sean Brown was 40th (30:38).

The Redhawks' lone competitor in the five-kilometer women's race was Samantha Thierry. She placed 44th (22:36).

Southeast teams return to action Saturday at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, Ill.

-- From staff reports