EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Southeast Missouri (7-13, 3-4) fell in four sets to SIUE (4-13, 2-5) on Friday evening, (25-19, 21-25, 18-25, 22-25).

Early Cougar errors matched with kills by Madalyn Werths and Krissa Gearring allowed the Redhawks to take an early 5-1 lead. Battling back, SIUE was cut off with a five-point run by the Redhawks sparked by a quick kill from Katarina Rotta (14-8). The Redhawks cruised to finish the Cougars, 25-19, claiming an early 1-0 lead in the match.

Southeast was unable to take full control, as a close second set allowed SIUE to rejoin the match. Edging the Redhawks early, the Cougars were able to maintain control throughout the second frame, eventually winning 25-21 and tying the match at a set apiece. 

Another back-and-forth battle saw the Redhawks down halfway through the set. A kill by Nzingha Clarke allowed Southeast to tie the set before SIUE would string together an eight-point rally to steal the set, 25-18, and take a 2-1 match lead.

Refusing to drop the match, the Redhawks rallied behind another Gearring kill and mounted a six-point run (18-13) in the middle of the third set. A Southeast service error gave control to SIUE who would ride out late momentum. The Cougars surpassed the Redhawks, finishing the set 25-22 and claiming the match in four sets. 

Werths led the Redhawks, sporting a season-high attack percentage of .560, tallying 15 kills. Clarke followed closely with 11 kills, sporting a .455 hitting clip. Freshman Keegan Fornoff was able to accumulate 30 assists while Jade Mortimer led defensively with 16 digs.

The Redhawks return to action Saturday at Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m.