OTAHK SPIKERS EXIT NCAA TOURNEY VIA HEARTBREAKER

SANTA BARBARA, Calif -- What appeared to be a quiet exit to a great Southeast volleyball season Thursday night, turned into a thrilling, but excruciating loss to Loyola Marymount in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After Loyola defeated Southeast Missouri handily in the first two sets 15-8, 15-6, Southeast rallied for 15-11, 15-5 victories. In the final and deciding match which featured rally scoring, Southeast, which had a match point, fell 20-18.

In a close fifth set throughout, Southeast had a 16-15 lead and was serving for the match, but saw the serve go into the net.

Loyola had three match points in the final game and made good on its final attempt with the score 19-18.

Loyola improved to 20-10 on the season and will play the winner of Thursday night's late match between Oral Roberts and the University of California-Santa Barbara in today's second round.

Southeast, which went into the match with a 21-game winning streak, finished the season with a 28-6 record. Loyola accounted for two of Southeast's losses this season."We're all a little emotional," said Southeast coach Cindy Gannon. "We came her trying to get to the second round. I'm proud of my group."Lea Beckemeyer led Southeast with 19 kills while Krista Haukap added 17. Angie Aschoff finished with team-high totals of 12 blocks and 12 digs.

Amy Henken finished with 54 assists.

Loyola's Jaimee Brubacher finished with a match-high 24 kills.