Towson – Box Score | PDF Version
MTSU – Box Score | PDF Version
 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri (7-5) volleyball team split a pair of matches at the first day of the Mizzou Classic Friday; defeating Towson (5-9), 3-1, and falling to Middle Tennessee (7-4), 3-0, in the nightcap.
 
"We were distracted with a couple injuries today but it gave us a chance to try some new things," said head coach Julie Yankus. "I am very proud of the way some of our girls stepped up and played aggressively off the bench."
 
Southeast Missour 3, Towson 1
"We set up some strong blocking against Towson which helped up force them into many hitting errors," Yankus added. "Yarber did a nice job for us offenseively and Idel passed very well which helped us have different offensive choices available when we needed them."
 
Southeast took the first set 25-17 but fell in a close second set, 26-24. Coming out of the intermission, the Redhawks rolled to a 25-13 set victory and regained the lead in the match. The Redhawks and Tigers battled it out in a close fourth set as the Redhawks prevailed 27-25 to take the first match of the Mizzou Classic.
 
Colleen Yarber led the Redhawks in kills with 14 in the match. Emily Coon killed the ball seven times and tallied four blocks, contributing to a total 11 team blocks. Meredith Stranges posted a career-high five kills.
 
Towson tallied 37 attack errors in the match.
 
Middle Tennessee 3, Southeast Missouri 0
"Middle Tennessee is a very good team with a lot of offensive weapons," said Yankus. "When we served tough and got them out of system, we really battled with them. Unfortunately, we just couldn't keep momentum long enough to win the match."
 
With a couple injuries in the match, the Redhawks were able to pull some bodies off the bench and try new things. Alex Rohlfing and Madalyn Werths saw their first playing time of the season against the Blue Raiders.
 
The Redhawks lost a close first set to fall behind early, 25-22. Southeast could not get in a system in the final two sets, dropping them both, 25-17, 25-18.
 
Andrea Baylin had a team-high nine kills but also posted six attack errors. Taylor Masterson had three blocks and seven kills. The Redhawks out-blocked MTSU 7-5.
 
The Redhawks will conclude 2013 tournament play Saturday against Samford at 10 a.m. followed by Missouri at 2 p.m.