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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri (11-10) volleyball squad came from behind after being down 2-0 to Saint Louis (8-12) to defeat the Billikens in a close five-set match (21-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-14, 15-11).
 
After posting 17 blocks in three sets against Murray State on Saturday, Southeast posted an impressive 18 team blocks against the Billikens, a new season-high. Taylor Masterson posted a career-high 12 blocks (two solo, 10 assisted) with Kelsey Keeve contributing seven (one solo, six assisted) of her own. Southeast also tied a season-high 10 service aces.
 
"It was quite a battle and it was a tale of two different teams tonight," said Julie Yankus. "The first two sets were all Saint Louis as we struggled passing. They had very aggressive serves that didn't allow us to fire our offense. It was a totally different story in the third and fourth sets. We began passing better and it allowed us to run our offense and include more people. We served more aggressively and they got tired. We had momentum on our side to help us wrap-up the match."
 
Saint Louis topped the Redhawks in the opening stanza, 25-21. SLU opened the set with five unanswered points but Southeast battled to tie the set at 13. The Billikens posted six of their nine service aces in the first set alone.
 
The Billikens extended their lead in the match in the second set with a 25-22 win. With the score tied at 15, SLU used a 7-1 run to open a comfy lead on the Redhawks, allowing them to fend off the Redhawks ensuing attacks and take the set. Southeast was able to take back some service aces in the set, posting three.
 
Coming out of the break, a fire was lit under the Redhawks. Both teams fought well in the beginning but, up 14-11, Southeast used a crucial 7-0 run to open a 10-point lead. SLU went on a 5-0 run towards the end of the set but Southeast was able to fend off the surge and take the set 25-17 and stay alive in the match. SLU posted a match-high 11 attack errors.
 
With their backs still against the wall, Southeast come out of the chute with a nice 9-2 lead. The Redhawks were able to open a 15-5 lead and cruise to a set four win and tying up the match at two sets apiece to force a decisive fifth set. Southeast tallied their eighth, ninth, and tenth service aces of the match in the fourth set and didn't tally a single attack error.
 
The fifth and final set proved to be a nail-biter. SLU jumped out in front but Southeast was able to tie the set at eight. Southeast used three straight points to take a 12-9 lead that they used to wrap up the set and the match, 15-11.
 
Keeve was most impressive in the match, tallying 11 kills with a .526 hitting clip, seven blocks, and five digs on the night. Colleen Yarber posted 12 kills, two blocks, and four aces. Besides her 12 blocks, Masterson killed the ball nine times with a .273 hitting percentage against the Billikens.
 
Yankus added, "Kelsey was great for us tonight as an offensive weapon running the slide and terminating down the line. She did excellent both offensively and defensively for us tonight. Taylor was on fire on the net. Her energy helps elevate the level of play on this team."
 
Both teams combined for 19 service aces. SLU also tallied 35 attack errors and nine service errors in the match.
 
The Redhawks head to Nashville, Tenn. for showdowns with Belmont, Friday, and Tennessee State, Saturday.