Nov. 18, 2006

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Seniors Jessica Koeper (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) and Jamie Baumstark (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) each produced double-double efforts as sixth-seeded Southeast Missouri State volleyball knocked off second-seeded Tennessee State in a three-game sweep (30-27, 30-25, 30-26) in the semifinals of the O'Reilly Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Pete Mathews Coliseum on the campus of Jacksonville State. The Redhawks improve to 16-17 on the year and advance to their first OVC title match in four years, while the Tigers finish out the season at 20-14.

Koeper produced a match-best 19 kills in addition to 10 digs, while Baumstark recorded 34 assists and 13 digs for Southeast. Freshman libero Molly Davis (Muncie, Ind./Burris) added a team-best 12 digs and freshman defensive specialist Taylor Harbster (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie) posted 11 digs and equaled a career high with three service aces. Freshman right side hitter Karleigh DeLong (Corona, Calif./Santiago) produced nine digs, seven assists and six kills.

Tennessee State opened the first game with an early 7-4 lead on a Southeast hitting error. The Redhawks came back with a scoring run of 7-1, which included three service aces from Harbster, to capture an 11-8 lead. A block by Koeper and junior middle blocker Brenna Schlader (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) increased Southeast's lead to 23-17. After the Tigers closed to within 27-26 on a Redhawk hitting error, Southeast scored three of the next four points to claim a 1-0 match lead.

The Redhawks continued where they left off in the second game by posting a 13-8 advantage on a DeLong kill. A kill by Schlader later increased Southeast's leading margin to 20-13 before the Tigers went on a 7-1 scoring drive to close within 21-20 on a from senior Erika Godbolt and junior Endia Oliver. Three kills from Koeper and two kills from freshman middle blocker Hannah Weis (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word) helped the Redhawks score five of the game's final nine points to enter the intermission with 2-0 lead.

Five service points from sophomore outside hitter Kim Unnerstall (Washington, Mo./St. Francis Borgia) with a service ace highlighted a 11-4 run that snapped an early 4-all tie in the third game, giving Southeast a 15-8 lead. TSU clawed back with a 10-3 run of its own to pull within a point at 19-18 thanks to a Redhawk hitting error. A service ace from Koeper later increased Southeast's advantage to 28-24 as both teams split the final four points to end the match.

"I give lots of credit to our passing and blocking tonight, while our offense had struggled at times tonight," Southeast head coach Renata Nowacki said. "Our blocking was good in altering some of Tennessee State's attacks and I feel that this was our strongest serving game of the season."

Godbolt and senior Meesha Jackson paced Tennessee State with 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Jackson also added a match-high five blocks (one solo, four assisted). Senior Tiana Maua produced a double-double of 33 assists and 11 digs, while junior Kelley Davis contributed a match-best 14 digs for the Tigers.

The Redhawks advance to tomorrow's OVC final against top seed and host Jacksonville State, who claimed a 3-0 win over No. 4 Morehead State in the other semifinal. The first serve is set for 2 p.m., and will be shown in a live internet broadcast on OVCsports.tv.