Otahkians open volleyball tournament with lopsided win

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University captured an easy victory Thursday night to advance into today's semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference volleyball tournament.

The Otahkians, seeded third for the six-team event, routed sixth-seeded Austin Peay 30-26, 30-20, 30-20 in a first-round match.

Bobbi Carlile powered home 19 kills to lead the Otahkians' offense while Emily Johnson added 15 kills. Setter Emily Scannell recorded 40 assists and 17 digs. Also in double figures in digs were Johnson (17), Suzanne Gundlach (15) and Carlile (14).

Southeast, which improved to 19-11 as it won for the 13th time in the past 15 matches, faces second-seeded Morehead State (20-11) in today's 4 p.m. semifinal.

The Otahkians and Eagles tied for second in the regular-season conference standings, both going 13-3, but the Eagles received the higher seed and first-round tournament bye because they won both matches from Southeast, including a recent five-game thriller.

Today's other semifinal, at 7 p.m., pits top-seeded and regular-season champion Tennessee-Martin (22-5) against fourth-seeded Murray State (12-11), which beat fifth-seeded Eastern Kentucky in Thursday's other first-round match.

Semifinal winners advance to Saturday's 1 p.m. final.