CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri took care of Missouri Baptist in three sets winning by scores of 25-12, 25-16 and 25-20 Monday afternoon in exhibition action at Houck Field House.
 
SEMO opened the match with a 13-point set one victory. Ahead, 11-5, the Redhawks scored eight-straight points to stretch their lead. Claire Ochs had a pair of kills with her second running SEMO's lead to 19-5. Freshman Tara Beilsmith nailed down the 25-12 victory with a service ace.
 
The Redhawks scored the first five points to grab an early lead in the second set. 
 
After Missouri Baptist battled back to get within one (9-8), SEMO responded with eight unanswered points. Beilsmith had two more service aces as the Redhawks took a 17-8 advantage before winning the set by a +9 margin.
 
SEMO fell behind, 15-8, but rallied to pull off a come-from-behind victory to complete its sweep of the Spartans.
 
The Redhawks were within one following a kill by Caroline Draver. A service ace by Laney Malloy tied the game at 15-15 on the next play. SEMO took its first lead of the set on a kill by Krista Berns and closed out the match strong by scoring the final five points after Missouri Baptist knotted the score at 20-20. All five of those tallies came off kills, including three from Malloy.
 
Colby Greene led the Redhawks with six kills, while Malloy, Krista Berns and Ochs followed close behind with five each. Ochs added a match-high 14 digs. 
 
SEMO added seven blocks, as well.
 
The Redhawks open their 2019 season at the Missouri State Tournament on Aug. 30-31. SEMO faces DePaul (Aug. 30), Jacksonville (Aug. 31) and host Missouri State (Aug. 31) in its season-opening tournament.