Southeast Missouri (11-18, 7-8 OVC)
At Jacksonville State (17-15,  8-7 OVC)
Match Information
Venue: Pete Mathews Coliseum
Location: Jacksonville, Alabama
When: Saturday, Nov. 15; 12 p.m.
Live Stats: JSUGamecockSports.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMOvb
 
Complete Southeast Missouri Match Notes
 
Finish Strong
Southeast Missouri volleyball will travel to Jacksonville State to play the 2014 regular-season finale Saturday. First serve against the Gamecocks is set for noon from Jacksonville, Alabama.
 
Looking Back
The Redhawks brought the home portion of their schedule to a close Tuesday with a three-set sweep of UT Martin. With the win, the Redhawks eliminated UT Martin from making postseason play and officially secured a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. SIUE was also eliminated Tuesday after falling to Eastern Illinois. The Redhawks are guaranteed at least the No. 8 seed in the tournament. Going into the weekend, there is currently a four-way tie for fourth-place. If the Redhawks defeat Jacksonville State, they would hold tiebreakers over Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech, earning them a higher seed. If the Redhawks fall to Jacksonville, they will hold the No. 8 seed.
 
Building Blocks
In OVC games, Southeast is averaging 2.60 blocks per set as a team; half a block per set more than Morehead State with 2.11. Individually, Nzingha Clarke and Taylor Masterson have been forces to reckon with on the net. Clarke leads the OVC with 1.25 blocks per set while Masterson ranks third with 1.12 blocks per set. The Redhawks are also holding their conference opponents to a .186 hitting percentage due in part to their blocking game.
 
Offensive Prowess
The Redhawks' .213 OVC hitting percentage ranks fourth in the league. Individually, two Redhawks rank in the top ten of the OVC in hitting percentage. Taylor Masterson's .378 average is the best in the league. Senior Kelsey Keeve is also a top-five hitter with a .307 hitting clip this conference season.
 
Scouting the Gamecocks
Jacksonville State fell to Belmont before defeating Tennessee State last week. Senior Nicole Merget recorded 11 kills and eight blocks against the Bruins and followed that up with 16 kills, eight blocks and a .389 attack percentage versus Tennessee State. She was responsible for 15 points versus Belmont and had 20 against TSU. The Gamecocks fell in four sets at Tennessee Tech on Tuesday. Jacksonville State has lost four of their last five matches with the lone win coming in five sets to Tennessee State.
 
Record Against
Jacksonville State - 13-11
The Redhawks hold a slight 13-11 advantage over the Gamecocks. The all-time series dates back to 1996. Southeast currently has a three-match winning streak over Jacksonville State. Last season, Southeast Missouri swept the Gamecocks in three sets at home on Oct. 5, 2013.
 
Setting Up
The Redhawks will take part in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament beginning Thursday in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State won the OVC regular-season title and the right to host the tournament. Murray State will be the No. 1 seed followed by Belmont with the No. 2 seed and Eastern Kentucky with the No. 3 seed.