Southeast Missouri State volleyball team's winning streak ends at six

Southeast Missouri State failed to extend its six-match volleyball winning streak Tuesday night.

The Redhawks consider that nothing more than a speed bump in what is shaping up as a potentially big season.

"We're still 4-0 in conference," junior middle blocker Emily Coon said. "That's a wonderful thing."

Southeast leads the Ohio Valley Conference West Division, its 4-0 league record marking the program's best OVC start since 2000.

The Redhawks' 12-6 overall record entering Tuesday's nonconference home match with Arkansas State also represented the program's best start since 2000.

Southeast Missouri State’s Kelsey Keeve spikes a ball past Arkansas State’ Sadie Clark during the Redhawks’ loss Tuesday at Houck Field House. (ADAM VOGLER)

A talented ASU team took Southeast down a notch, slipping past the Redhawks 25-19, 15-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-7 in front of nearly 300 fans at Houck Field House.

"It's a tough loss. Any loss is a tough loss," Coon said after Southeast's longest winning streak since 2007 ended. "We came out really wanting this game. It's always our goal to protect our home court."

Southeast coach Julie Folliard thought the Redhawks played a solid match but just not quite good enough to take down the Red Wolves (12-8).

"Overall we did a great job battling with them," said Folliard, whose squad opened a five-match homestand with the first contest of its October Dig for Life campaign that raises money for breast cancer awareness. "I thought we did some nice things. They are an athletic team."

ASU senior outside hitter Jasmine Terry especially showed off her athleticism at the net.

Southeast’s Taylor Masterson spikes a shot past Arkansas State’s Sadie Clark, left, and Kelsie Hodges. (ADAM VOGLER)

Southeast had few answers for the 6-foot-1 Terry, who powered home 24 kills.

"She's definitely a good player," Folliard said.

ASU coach David Rehr said the Red Wolves look for Terry to lead them in every match.

"All year long we've talked about putting pressure on her, putting her in situations where she carries us. She has," Rehr said. "She's a fantastic talent."

Folliard said she knew Terry would get her share of kills, but the Redhawks did not do a good enough job against some of ASU's other hitters. Three more ASU players had double-figure kills.

Coon led Southeast with season highs of 15 kills and nine blocks, one off her career high.

Junior outside hitter Colleen Yarber had 11 kills, 20 digs and five blocks.

Junior setter Julie Shives dished out 35 assists to move into seventh place on the program's career assists list with 2,857.

Junior libero Berkley Idel and senior libero Samantha Lowman recorded 13 and 10 digs, respectively.

"We played a good match. It just wasn't consistent," senior outside hitter Karlee Lursen said. "We weren't finishing games."

Southeast fought an uphill battle all night after ASU scored the final six points of Game 1 to win 25-19.

The Redhawks rolled 25-15 in Game 2 before the Red Wolves took Game 3 25-21.

Southeast sent the match to the limit with a 25-22 Game 4 victory, but ASU scored the first five points in Game 5 and rolled 15-7.

"We just couldn't pull it out at the end," Coon said.

The Redhawks will look to start a new winning streak this weekend when they host two OVC matches.

"Start back in conference and get two wins this weekend," Lursen said. "We want to protect our home court."

Southeast will face Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Murray State at 2 p.m. Saturday. Both squads trail the Redhawks in the OVC West Division standings.

"We're excited to get back into conference play," Folliard said. "It's going to be a competitive weekend."