Southeast Missouri at ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2
Match Information
Tournament: ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2
Host: Alabama State
Opponents: Alabama State, The Citadel, Savannah State, Southern Mississippi
Venue: Dunn-Oliver Acadome
Location: Montgomery, Alabama
When: Thursday, Sept. 11 – Friday, Sept. 12
Live Stats: BamaStateSports.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMOvb
 
Complete Southeast Missouri Match Notes
 
Time for Some Wins
The Southeast Missouri volleyball team is on a six-game losing streak heading into their final tournament of the season. The Redhawks head south to Montgomery, Alabama for the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 hosted by Alabama State. Southeast will take on Alabama State and The Citadel on Thursday and Savannah State and Southern Mississippi on Friday.
 
Looking Back
While the Redhawks came up winless at the Indiana Invitational last weekend, they proved to their high-RPI opponents they could play right along with them. Southeast fell by only two points in six of the nine sets they lost in Indiana. The Redhawks were just short of pulling off a comeback against SEC opponent Mississippi State Friday after falling behind 2-0 in the match. Southeast was swept by both Indiana and Miami (Ohio) but played both teams very closely. Out of 11 total sets, Southeast put up 20 or more points on the board in eight of them.
 
Waking the Offense
One of the main goals for Southeast Missouri volleyball going into the 2014 season was to increase the offensive output.  Well the Redhawks have done just that so far this young season. Currently, the Redhawks are hitting .178 as a team. While that ranks in the bottom half of the conference, it is an improvement of where the Redhawks were a year ago. Southeast is hitting nearly 20 points higher in 2014 while recording almost a kill higher per set. Despite coming up winless at Indiana, the Redhawks still hit .235 on the weekend with 13.18 kills per set.
 
Playing in Front of the Home Crowd
Freshman middle blocker Jessica McElderry will return to her home state of Alabama this weekend. Montgomery is about an hour and a half from her hometown of Hoover, Alabama.
 
Fresh Faces
The 2014 volleyball squad features a total of 15 student-athletes. Of the 15, 11 are in their first two years with the program. The Redhawks also carry six freshmen on the roster. Two weeks into the 2014 season, nine of the before mentioned players contribute regularly on the floor, including five of the six freshman.
 
Records Against
It will be the first meeting between the Redhawks and all their opponents at the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 in Montgomery this weekend.
 
Setting Up
The Redhawks hit the road once more before opening the home schedule. Southeast heads to Kansas City, Missouri Wednesday for an in-state matchup with the Kangaroos of UMKC. The Redhawks will open at home Sunday, Sept. 21 when they host regional rival Southern Illinois. The SIU match will be the second annual Houck Filled House event and will feature a silent auction to benefit the volleyball program. First serve against the Salukis will be at 1 p.m.