Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
 
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southeast Missouri volleyball team opened the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 Thursday with three-set sweeps over host Alabama State and The Citadel.
 
Southeast snapped a six-match losing streak with their win over Alabama State to begin the day. With the two victories, Southeast improves to 3-6 on the season.
 
"We did a great job of closing out each match in three sets today and had lots of players contributing on the floor," said head coach Julie Yankus. "I'm very pleased with the way Kelsey played today. She played lights out all day and no one could stop her slide attack. Taylor also had a great day offensively. If we can get her the ball, she almost always terminates it. Baylin was also a major reason we beat The Citadel. She passed very well and terminated in the front row."
 
Southeast Missouri 3, Alabama State 0
The Southeast Missouri volleyball team snapped their six-match losing streak when they opened the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 with a three-set sweep of host Alabama State (25-8, 25-16, 25-21).
 
Southeast wasted no time firing the offense as they downed the Hornets in the opening stanza by a score of 25-8. It was the first time this season Southeast has held their opponent to single digits. Kelsey Keeve recorded six kills in the set with a .750 hitting clip. Southeast jumped up 4-0 and quickly built upon the early lead to take a 1-0 lead in the match. The Redhawks used six-straight points to wrap up the set. The Redhawks hit .519 and committed only one attack error in the set.
 
The Redhawks won set two by a score of 25-16 and took a 2-0 lead in the match. The Hornets played the Redhawks much closer in the second set but the Redhawks gradually built a comfortable lead. Taylor Masterson put up seven kills in the second set.
 
Set three was the closest set of the match. Down 9-4, Alabama State used a 10-1 run to overtake the Redhawks, 14-10. The Redhawks tied the match at 18 and were able to pull ahead to earn the sweep of the defending SWAC champion Hornets.
 
Keeve recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs. Masterson finished with 10 kills in the match while hitting .529.
 
The Redhawks out-killed the Hornets 37-29 while hitting .270 as a team. ASU had 25 attack errors in the match. 
 
Southeast Missouri 3, The Citadel 0
The Redhawks picked up right where they left off but this time against The Citadel. Southeast performed their second sweep of the day over the Bulldogs (25-19, 25-20, 25-17).
 
The first set remained close for the beginning portion of the stanza. Down 13-12, Southeast used four-straight points to go ahead 16-13. The Redhawks were able to hold on to their late lead and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Southeast never trailed the Bulldogs in the second set. The Redhawks held a steady lead throughout the set as they cruised to a 25-20 set two victory.
 
It was a similar story in the third set as the Redhawks cruised to a 25-17 set three win en route to their second sweep of the day.
 
Keeve was once again firing on all cylinders in the second match of the day. She tallied a new career-high 15 kills while hitting an impressive .737 in the match. Andrea Baylin added 13 kills of her own while hitting a new career-best .591.
 
As a team, Southeast hit .373 in the match while recording 46 total kills.
 
Yankus added, "It feels great to get some wins and continue to build confidence for this young team."
 
The Redhawks return to action Friday at 11 a.m. against Savannah State and wrap up play at the ISTAP Collegiate Cup 2 at 7 p.m. against Southern Mississippi.