CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri volleyball (4-2) took down previously undefeated Evansville (5-1) in a five-set thriller Saturday afternoon to post a perfect 3-0 record over the weekend and win the 2017 Redhawks Invitational Tournament held at the Show Me Center.
 
SEMO beat Evansville 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11 to win their first tournament since the 2013 Maroon Classic at Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
 
"I'm so happy for this team right now," head coach Julie Yankus said. "They have worked so hard in the gym day in and day out so it's great to see them win our home tournament. We drastically improved our first ball contacts this weekend which helped us run our offense effectively."
 
Outside hitter Krissa Gearring was named the Redhawks Invitational Tournament MVP and middle blocker Nzingha Clarke and libero Ally Dion were selected to the all-tournament team.
 
Gearring recorded a team-leading 18 digs including her 1,000 career dig as a Redhawk a day after she notched her 1,000 career kill in the victory over Evansville. She also added a team-best 14 kills in the match and finished the tournament with 37 kills (3.36 kills/set) and 34 digs (3.09 digs/set).
 
"This was a momentous weekend for Krissa Gearring and I'm so proud of her accomplishments," Yankus said. "It's amazing that she reached her 1,000 kill and 1,000 dig mark in the same home weekend. She definitely earned her MVP honors this weekend."
 
Clarke compiled six kills on Saturday and finished the tournament with 19 kills and 18 blocks.
 
"Nzingha was very consistent this weekend," Yankus said of Clarke. "She hit a very high percentage and had some amazing blocks."
 
Dion totaled 34 digs and nine service aces over the weekend including a team-high 14 digs in Saturday's match.
 
"Ally Dion had a great weekend and I'm proud of her for earning an all-tournament nod as a freshman," Yankus said. "She was very consistent in serve receive which really contributed to our success offensively. Ally also did a great job defensively and got a lot of great digs for us at opportune times."

Southeast dropped the opening set to the Purple Aces before responding with back-to-back set wins to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Redhawks hit a match-high .306 in the third set with 16 kills.
 
With their back against the wall, Evansville then won the fourth set to force the crucial fifth set.
 
Outside hitter Mikayla Kuhlmann had three of her 12 kills in the final set and Gearring chipped in two kills. Kuhlmann hit a season-best .385 and also had two service aces and six digs.
 
Setter Keegan Fornoff had 31 assists and Allie Henkelman posted 23 assists.
 
The Redhawks face the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a Labor Day showdown on Monday at 4 p.m. at Houck Field House.
 
All-Tournament Team
Krissa Gearring (MVP) - Southeast Missouri
Nzingha Clarke - Southeast Missouri
Ally Dion - Southeast Missouri
Erlicia Griffith - Evansville
Rachel Tam - Evansville
Keana Browne - Morgan State
Lisa Casimie - UAPB
 
Final Standings
1.  Southeast Missouri – 3-0
2. Evansville – 2-1
3. Morgan State – 1-2
4. Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 0-3