CHARLESTON, Ill. – Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (13-5, 4-2 OVC) downed Eastern Illinois (7-9, 0-6 OVC), 25-23, 25-18, 27-25, Friday night at Lantz Arena to open the two-match road series.
For the Redhawks, the sweep was SEMO's third straight and extended its win streak to three.
Zoey Beasley and
Colby Greene each registered 11 kills to lead the Redhawks hitting at a beat of .478 and .348, respectively.
Laney Malloy chipped in nine kills with six digs.
SEMO struggled out of the gates, falling behind 7-1 early in the first set.
A kill from Ochs cut the lead to 9-5.
The Panthers increased the margin to 20-12 after a 5-0 run. Kylie Michael had three kills during the rally.
SEMO continued to fight back and clawed within three (19-22) after rally stoppers by
Talia Gouard (2) and Beasley.
Michael added another kill to make the score 23-19 before the Redhawks claimed the first frame on a 6-0 run.
Beasley knocked her fifth kill of the set before an ace by
Izzy Lukens made it a one-point set (22-23).
EIU hit three consecutive errors to conclude the set as SEMO took an early 1-0 lead with a 25-23 first stanza.
The Redhawks started hot in the second set, commencing with a 5-2 edge.
A pair of kills from Greene to bookend a Panthers ball handling error made the SEMO advantage 13-8.
Greene slammed two more kills to widen the gap to 15-9. The rightside hitter from North Liberty, Iowa, posted seven rally stoppers in the second set on a .417 clip.
Malloy belted a pair of kills to keep EIU at bay, 20-14.
The Panthers came as close as 22-18 after a block assist by Michael and Emily Wilcox.
Greene wrapped up the set with a pair of kills before an EIU error.
SEMO hit a match-best .353 in the second set and finished the match with a rate of .274. EIU finished with a .162 behind a .231 third stanza.
The Panthers responded with a 4-1 third set lead that increased to 9-3.
A kill by Beasley halved the EIU advantage to 12-6.
SEMO then pulled within two (11-13) on a 5-0 run.
Megan Harris recorded a pair of aces during the sequence and Greene added a kill.
Harris made her first career start Friday. The freshman defensive specialist from Nesbit, Mississippi, notched a career-high seven digs to complement three aces and an assist.
Gouard and
Claire Ochs each hit kills to keep the EIU lead at two (13-15 and 14-16).
Beasley then hit three kills to cut the deficit to 20-17. She had five kills in the final set on a .625 hitting percentage.
Mackenzie Meehan connected on a kill before an ace by Harris made the scoreboard read 21-19 EIU.
Greene then teamed up with Meehan for a block assist before a kill after a Panthers error as SEMO came within one, 23-22.
Greene and Malloy then hit consecutive rally stoppers to knot the set at 24-24. Greene had four kills during the third set on a .571 clip.
Michael hit a kill for the Panthers before SEMO secured the victory with three straight points.
Ochs connected on a kill followed by an EIU error and a Malloy service ace to conclude the match.
Ochs dished out 30 assists with five digs and four kills (.429).
Tara Beilsmith led the defense with 14 digs and two assists.
Ally Dion added six digs with an assist and an ace.
SEMO led Eastern Illinois in aces, 6-4.
The Panthers out blocked the Redhawks, 5-2.
Michael paced EIU with 13 kills and eight digs. Christina Martinez Mundo had a match-high 19 digs and Bailey Chandler finished with 20 assists.
SEMO closes out its series at Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon. First service is set for 4 p.m., CT at Lantz Arena.