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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Southeast Missouri volleyball team (14-13, 6-5 OVC) won a close five-set match Friday evening against SIUE (9-15, 5-6 OVC). SIUE was able to tie up the match after going down 2-0 but Southeast fought hard to steal the fifth set, and the match, away from the Cougars.
 
"Overall, I'm proud of our fight in that fifth set," said Julie Yankus. "Despite having to fight back from an early deficit, we did not give up. We played hard and played with confidence until the last point was scored."
 
The Redhawks took an early and important lead in the match with a 25-20 opening set victory. Southeast was able to take an 11-5 lead and was able to consistently hold a five and six point lead the rest of the set.
 
The Redhawks won a much more closely fought set two, 25-22. Once again, the Redhawks took an early 8-3 lead but the Cougars battled back to tie it at 10. Tied at 18, the Redhawks were able to open a slim lead on SIUE and carried it to the set two win.
 
The Cougars avoided the Redhawk sweep with a 25-19 set three win. SIUE garnered their largest lead of the contest, going up 20-13 on the Redhawks at one point.
 
SIUE tied up the match with a 25-22 set four win. The set was tied at 14 but SIUE pulled ahead and never looked back with a 7-1 run. The Redhawks were able to pull within one, 23-22, but SIUE took the set to force a decisive fifth set.
 
As if the first four sets weren't close enough, the final set proved a barn burner on both sides. SIUE was up 11-6 at one point in the fifth set. Up 14-12 and serving match point, the Cougars lost control as Southeast caught SIUE to tie the set up at 14. Both teams battled as the set was still all tied up at 17. With a Cougar attack error followed by a big kill from Emily Coon, the Redhawks took the closely fought fifth set and the match, 19-17.
 
Colleen Yarber tallied 18 kills in the match with a .250 hitting clip and a team-high 25 digs and three blocks against the Cougars. Coon recorded seven kills, a .240 hitting percentage, and six blocks.
 
"Colleen had a great night leading our offense. She swung aggressively in pressure situations and found ways to score. We need more production offensively and will continue to try to find ways to increase our kills per set."
 
The Redhawks will take on Eastern Illinois Saturday at 5 p.m.