Match #29 | OVC #17
Morehead State (18-9, 14-2 OVC)
vs. Southeast Missouri (21-7, 12-4 OVC)
Match Information
Date: Friday, Nov. 12, 2021
Venue: Houck Field House
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
First Serve: 6 p.m., CT
All-Time Series: SEMO leads Morehead State, 29-22
Last Meeting: 3-0 SEMO Win | Nov. 23, 2019 | 2019 OVC Tournament Championship Final | Jacksonville, Ala.
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Video: ESPN+
Tickets
 
Match #30 | OVC #18
Morehead State (18-9, 14-2 OVC)
vs. Southeast Missouri (21-7, 12-4 OVC)
Match Information
Date: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021
Venue: Houck Field House
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
First Serve: 2 p.m., CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Video: ESPN+
Tickets 

Media Coverage
Twitter: @SEMOvb
Media Guide: Southeast Missouri
Match Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
Redhawks Host Morehead State in Final Regular-Season Series With OVC Championship on the Line
Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (21-7, 12-4 OVC) will take on Morehead State (18-9, 14-2 OVC) Friday and Saturday in its final regular-season Ohio Valley Conference series with an opportunity to capture a share of the 2021 OVC Regular-Season Championship. Match times are set for 6 p.m., CT and 2 p.m. in Senior Weekend at Houck Field House.
 
SEMO is currently second in the OVC standings behind Morehead State and can claim a share of the regular-season title and the top-seed in the 2021 OVC Championship Tournament with a pair of victories over the Eagles.
 
The Redhawks hold the tiebreak over Austin Peay (also 12-4 in the OVC) and would also have the tiebreak on Morehead State with a pair of wins.
 
With two wins over the Eagles, SEMO would claim a share of its 10th OVC Regular-Season title in program history. The Redhawks last won the league's regular season in 2007 with a mark of 13-6.
 
SEMO will recognize seniors Ally Dion, Laney Malloy, Elissa Moylan, Claire Ochs and Caroline Draver prior to Saturday's Senior Day match.
 
Promotions
• Greek Spirit Cup Night – Friday is Greek Spirit Cup Night at Houck Field House. The fraternity and sorority chapters with the most fan engagement at the match will receive $100 to their philanthropy fund. Fraternities and sororities must have a minimum of 15 members in attendance to be eligible for the philanthropy donation.
• NSSC Volleyball Night – Friday athletes from the NSSC Volleyball Club in Cape Girardeau can receive discounted tickets by using the promo code NSSC at SEMORedhawks.com/promo
• SEMO will wear purple and teal ribbons Friday in partnership with Iota Chi to raise awareness for sexual violence.
• Senior Day – Saturday is Senior Day at Houck Field House. SEMO will recognize seniors Ally Dion, Laney Malloy, Elissa Moylan, Claire Ochs and Caroline Draver prior to Saturday's match.

Follow the Redhawks
• Stats will be available for Friday and Saturday's matches on SEMORedhawks.com
• Live video for both matches will be streamed on ESPN+
• @SEMOvb, the official Twitter page of Redhawks volleyball, will feature live in-match updates all season long.
 
Series History
SEMO leads the all-time series with Morehead State, 29-22. The Redhawks and Eagles did not face each other during the 2020-21 season.
 
SEMO has won the last two meetings against Morehead State, 3-0, which were both during the 2019 season.
 
The #2-seeded Redhawks swept #4 Morehead State to capture the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship on Nov. 23, 2019. Laney Malloy, Mikayla Kuhlmann and Claire Ochs were each named to the 2019 OVC All-Tournament Team. Ochs was selected as the tournament MVP. Malloy led the Redhawks offense with 16 kills and 10 digs for the double-double on a .267. Kuhlmann chipped in 12 on a .417 hitting clip. Ochs dished out 32 assists with eight digs and five kills. Tara Beilsmith led the SEMO defense with a match-high 18 digs. 
 
SEMO also swept the Eagles in regular-season action on Oct. 18, 2019. Mikayla Kuhlmann led the Redhawks offense with 11 kills on a .320 hitting percentage while Laney Malloy added nine. Krista Berns chipped in seven (.538). Claire Ochs dished out 30 assists while the team hit at a .268 rate. Beilsmith led the defense with 13 digs to go along with four service aces.

Scouting the Eagles
Morehead State currently leads the OVC standings in 2021 with a 14-2 mark. After falling to Austin Peay to start the league slate, the Eagles have rallied off 14-straight wins heading into the final weekend of conference matches.
 
Morehead State clinched a share of the 2021 OVC Regular Season Championship with Austin Peay's loss at Murray State on Wednesday. The best SEMO and Austin Peay can do is tie the Eagles for the title. Austin Peay is at Eastern Illinois to conclude the 2021 OVC regular season. The title is the 13th in program history for Morehead State and second-straight after the Eagles won the 2020-21 Championship this past spring.
 
Morehead State has swept its last three matches against Belmont (Nov. 5-6) and SIUE (Nov. 5).
 
Olivia Lohmeier nearly had her third double-double of the year with 10 kills and nine digs in the opening match with the Bruins. Lohmeier is the reigning OVC Player of the Year and has been awarded the honor twice in her career. She paces Morehead State in 2021 with 405 kills (4.01 kills/set).
 
Bridget Bessler has 838 assists (10.61 assists/set) this season and Allison Whitten has grabbed 465 digs (4.65 digs/set).

Redhawks Split Series at Murray State
SEMO split its final regular-season road series at Murray State Nov. 5-6. The Redhawks beat their league rival in four sets before being swept in the finale.
 
Laney Malloy led the offense with 26 kills (3.71 kills/set) and 26 digs (3.71 digs/set) including 15 kills and 16 digs in the opener.
 
Zoey Beasley accumulated 27.5 points over two matches. Beasley had 3.29 kills per set (23 kills). Beasley notched 14 kills and six blocks in the opener on a .256 clip. She then closed the series with nine kills.
 
Claire Ochs led the Redhawks with 68 assists (9.71 assists/set) and 17 digs (2.43 digs/set). Ochs opened the series with 39 assists to go along with 10 digs and two kills. She then posted 29 assists with seven digs in the series finale.
 
Tara Beilsmith paced the SEMO defense with 37 digs (5.29 digs/set). She started the weekend on Friday with 18 digs and turned in a 19-dig performance on Saturday.
 
20-Plus Win Seasons
With a win at Murray State on Nov. 5, SEMO has now surpassed 20 wins three times with head coach Julie Yankus leading the Redhawks.
 
The Redhawks notched a 23-11 mark in 2019 en route to the OVC Tournament title and were 21-13 in Yankus' second season in 2012.
 
SEMO notched 14 OVC wins last season and can match that mark with two wins over Morehead State. The Redhawks 14 league wins in 2020-21 are the most in the past 13 seasons as the 2007 SEMO team finished with a mark of 15-5.
  
Ochs in 4K
Senior setter Claire Ochs surpassed 4,000 assists in her career as a Redhawk with 29 in the series finale with Murray State on Nov 6. She is the sixth SEMO volleyball player in program history to reach the milestone.
 
Ochs ranks second in SEMO program history (25-point rally scoring era from 2008 to present) with 4,011 behind Julie Shives (4,601, 2010-13). Overall, Ochs ranks sixth for assists in a single-season at SEMO with 1,092. Her career-high for a season is 1,207 assists, which she achieved in 2019.
 
Our Libero, Tara Beilsmith, Ladies and Gentlemen
Tara Beilsmith is third in the nation with 555 total digs (first in the OVC) in 2021. She is third in the OVC with 5.24 digs per set (16th in the NCAA). Beilsmith has registered double-digit digs in all but one match in 2021. She notched a career-high 39 digs against Memphis on Sept. 10.
 
In league play, Beilsmith is third with 4.88 digs/set (283 digs).

Ochs Leads the OVC for Assists
Claire Ochs paces the OVC with 1,092 assists this season, which is also second in the NCAA. Ochs is averaging 10.30 assists/set (fourth in the OVC). She also ranks ninth in the OVC with 303 digs.
  
Ochs paces the Redhawks with 15 double-doubles in 2021.
 
In league play, Ochs is third with 599 assists (10.33 assists/set, fourth).
 
Malloy Ranks Top-3 in the OVC
Laney Malloy leads the league in 2021 with 487.0 total points (ninth in the NCAA), 37 service aces and 1,258 total attacks. She is second with 429 total kills (4.05 kills/set), 11.87 attacks per set and 4.59 points per set.
 
Malloy is also 10th in the conference with 301 digs.
 
In OVC play, Malloy ranks first with 237 kills (4.09 kills/set, second) followed by Zoey Beasley (3.72 kills/set, third, 216 kills, fourth). Malloy is also the conference leader for points (267.5, 4.61 points/set) and fourth for aces (0.31 aces/set, 18 service aces).

Malloy has posted double-digit kills in 24 matches in 2021. She registered a career-best 26 kills to complement 16 digs in the opener with Austin Peay on Oct. 28.
 
Malloy notched 25 kills and 23 digs against Memphis (9/10) and finished the tournament with 20 kills and 16 digs versus Arkansas State (9/11). Malloy opened the Redhawks Invitational with 23 kills and 10 digs on a .457 clip against Tulsa (9/17).
 
The Beas Knees
Junior outside hitter Zoey Beasley is second on the Redhawks with 352 kills (3.32 kills/set, sixth in the OVC) in 2021, which ranks fourth in the OVC. She is also sixth in the league with 384.0 points and seventh with 954 total attacks.
 
In league play, she is third for kills (3.72 kills/set, 216 kills) and fourth for points (234.5 total points, 4.04 points/set).

Beasley had a career best 25 kills in the opener with Austin Peay on Oct. 28.

Beasley also tallied 21 kills to close the regular-season series with UT Martin Oct. 12 on a .388 percentage. She also notched 11 kills on a .478 in the series opener with EIU on Oct. 8 before 14 on a .345 clip in the finale on Oct. 9.

Beasley was named to her first career all-tournament team at the Redhawks Invitational and started the Invitational with 14 kills on a .300 rate against Tulsa (Sept. 17).
 
Beasley commenced the CEFCU Invitational with her first career double-double of 20 kills and 10 digs against DePaul in the season opener on Aug. 27. She also belted a career-best 21 kills on a .341 hitting percentage with six digs at Western Michigan (Sept. 3).
 
Our Favorite Color Besides Red is Greene
Redshirt-junior rightside hitter Colby Greene is third on SEMO offensively with 268 kills. She ranks 15th in the OVC with 2.55 kills per set.
 
She most recently posted 15 kills in the series at Murray State Nov. 5-6.
 
She knocked a career-best 23 kills on a .283 clip with three digs in the first meeting with UT Martin (Sept. 29) in 2021. Greene also finished with 19 kills in the series with Belmont (Oct. 1-2) including 12 on a .611 rate in the finale.
 
Greene concluded SEMO's non-conference slate with 11 kills against Tulsa (Sept. 17) and 10 kills versus Central Arkansas (Sept. 18) to earn her first career all-tournament team honor.
 
Greene opened the 2021 campaign with 17 kills on a .245 clip against DePaul (8/27). She chipped in 14 kills in both of SEMO's five-set matches against Western Michigan (Sept. 3) and Indiana (Sept. 4).
 
Mack Attack
Mackenzie Meehan, a transfer from Radford, has led the Redhawks blocking in 10 of the last 14 matches. Meehan registered a career-high seven in the series finales at Eastern Illinois (Oct. 9) and at UT Martin (Oct. 12), respectively. She also posted six in the opener with Tennessee Tech (Oct. 22) and series finale with SIUE (Oct. 16).
 
Meehan has started in 10 of the last 14 Redhawk matches. She also compiled a career best six kills with a dig and a block against Belmont on Oct. 1.
 
In OVC play, Meehan is sixth with 1.08 blocks/set (42.0 total blocks).
 
Meehan made her Redhawks debut at the 2021 SEMO Invitational Sept. 10-11. The redshirt-sophomore middle blocker from Crofton, Maryland, finished with three kills and four blocks. She made her first career start at SEMO against Memphis on Sept. 10, tallying two kills and a block.

Harris with the Ace!
Megan Harris is sixth in the conference during the OVC slate with 0.31 aces per set (13 aces).
 
Harris, a freshman defensive specialist from Nesbit, Mississippi, registered a career-best 11 digs and six service aces in the finale at Eastern Illinois (Oct. 9).
 
Harris made her first two career starts as a Redhawk against EIU in Charleston, Illinois. She totaled 18 digs (3.00 digs/set), nine service aces (1.50 aces/set) and three assists as SEMO swept its series at Eastern Illinois (Oct. 8-9).
 
She tallied 13 digs and an ace in the series at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 22-23).  
 
Kayla Closset also ranks third in the OVC with 0.33 aces per set (11 aces).
 
Block Party!!
Talia Gouard (72.0 total blocks, 0.74 blocks/set), Colby Greene (61.0 total blocks, 0.58 blocks/set), Elissa Moylan (53.0 total blocks, 0.75 block/set), Mackenzie Meehan (49.0 total blocks, 1.04 blocks/set) and Zoey Beasley (49.0 total blocks, 0.46 blocks/set) pace the Redhawks in 2021 at the net as SEMO ranks fifth in the league with 209.5 total blocks (1.98 blocks/set, eighth in the OVC).
 
Claire Ochs and Laney Malloy have 35 (0.33 blocks/set) and 33 (0.31 blocks/set), respectively.
 
Leading the Conference
SEMO leads the OVC for team assists (1,294, eighth in the NCAA), team digs (1,820, fifth in the NCAA), team kills (1,411, seventh in the NCAA), team service aces (160), match win loss percentage (.750) and opposing hitting percentage (.148, 10th in the NCAA).

SEMO is also second in the conference for aces per set (1.51), digs per set (17.17), hitting percentage (.216) and team total attacks (3,995, fifth in the NCAA).
 
The Redhawks rank third for assists per set (12.21), kills per set (13.31) and attacks per set (37.69).
 
In league play, SEMO is second for hitting percentage (.218), opponent hitting percentage (.145), service aces (1.45 aces/set, 84) and digs (16.62 digs/set, 964). The team is also third for kills (13.62 kills/set, 790).
 
Kills Leader
With 43 kills against Austin Peay Oct. 28-29, senior Laney Malloy overtook Krissa Gearring (1,309, 2014-17) for the career kills leader (25-point rally scoring era 2008-present) with 1,352 career kills.
 
Malloy previously surpassed Krissa Gearring (4,066, 2014-17) for first in SEMO program history for total attacks (25-point rally scoring era from 2008 to present) with 55 total attacks in the series opener at Tennessee Tech Oct. 22. Malloy has 4,349 total attacks in her career and 1,259 in 2021.
 
Overall, Malloy ranks third in SEMO program history as Krista Haukap had 4,921 from 1997-2000.
 
Yankus Notches Her 100th OVC Win
With a win over Tennessee Tech on Oct. 22, head coach Julie Yankus has totaled 100 career wins in conference competitions. She has 12 in 2021.

Yankus is the second coach in SEMO program history to reach 100 OVC wins as Cindy Gannon totaled 204 from 1989-2004 (SEMO joined the OVC in 1991).
 
Welcome to the 1,000 Dig, 1,000 Kill Club, Laney Malloy
Laney Malloy surpassed 1,000 career digs Sept. 24 in SEMO's win over Tennessee State. She paced the Redhawks with 19 kills and 20 digs to go along with three service aces, two assists and a block in the match.
 
Malloy previously overcame 1,000 career kills at Western Michigan's Discover Kalamazoo Classic (Sept. 3-4) and is the first Redhawk since Krissa Gearring (2014-2017) to join the 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs club.
 
Malloy ranks ninth at SEMO in program history with 1,155 career digs and first for career kills with 1,352.

1,000 Digs Club
Both senior setter Claire Ochs and junior libero Tara Beilsmith surpassed 1,000 career digs Sept. 10-11 at the 2021 SEMO Invitational. Ochs has 1,185 in her career to complement 4,011 career assists.
 
Beilsmith has 1,359 career digs as a Redhawk. She is fifth all-time for career digs in the 25-point rally-scoring era (2008-present) followed by Ochs who is seventh.
 
Yankus Hits 150 Wins at SEMO
With two wins at the SEMO Invitational (Sept. 10-11), head coach Julie Yankus hit 150 in her career at SEMO.
 
She ranks third in program history for wins behind Cindy Gannon (366, 1989-2004) and Lana Flynn (Richmond) (203, 1982-1988).
 
Non-Conference Recap
SEMO notched a 9-3 non-conference record with a pair of tournament titles at Bradley's CEFCU Invitational (Aug. 27-28) and at the Redhawks Invitational (Sept. 17-18).
 
The Redhawks compiled wins over DePaul, Bradley, Central Michigan, Purdue Fort Wayne, Marshall, Memphis, Tulsa, Southern Illinois and Central Arkansas.
 
SEMO fell in five sets at Western Michigan, against the Big Ten's Indiana, and Arkansas State.
 
Laney Malloy was named to the all-tournament all four weekends including MVP twice. Tara Beilsmith (2), Claire Ochs, Zoey Beasley and Colby Greene each were selected to all-tournament teams.
  
Oh Captains, My Captains
Head coach Julie Yankus announced Aug. 26 SEMO's three captains for the 2021 season. Senior outside hitter Laney Malloy, senior setter Claire Ochs and junior libero Tara Beilsmith will lead this year's team. Malloy and Ochs have been Redhawks captains since the 2019 season. For Beilsmith, it is her first season as captain.

Missouri Baptist Exhibition Recap
SEMO opened its 2021 season with a 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-18) exhibition victory over Missouri Baptist, the 2021 NAIA National Champions, on Aug. 12.  
    
2020-21 Season Recap
The Redhawks finished with a 14-3 overall record in 2020-21. SEMO posted a 14-2 record in OVC play for third in the league and the no. 3 seed at the 2020-21 OVC Championship Tournament.
 
After dropping their opening weekend at Jacksonville State, SEMO went on a 14-match win streak with seven series victories. SEMO's 14 league wins in 2020-21 are the most in the past 13 seasons as the 2007 SEMO team finished with a mark of 15-5.
 
The Redhawks' OVC winning percentage of .875 was the highest since 2000, when SEMO was perfect in league play, 16-0 (1.000). SEMO last finished an OVC slate with a record of 14-2 in 1995.
  
Team Makeup
The Redhawks return 15 letterwinners and all but one starter from the 2020-21 squad. Defensive specialist Ally Dion and All-OVC outside hitter, Laney Malloy, both return for their fifth-year senior seasons along with true seniors, All-OVC setter, Claire Ochs, Elissa Moylan and Caroline Draver.
 
Other top returners include juniors Tara Beilsmith (starting libero, 2019 All-OVC player), Talia Gouard (starting middle blocker), Colby Greene (starting right side) and Zoey Beasley (starting outside hitter).
 
Malloy led the Redhawks offensively in the spring with 226 kills (3.83 kills per set) for 2020-21 All-OVC First-Team honors. Greene was second on SEMO with 155 kills (2.63 kills/set) and Beasley ranked third on the squad with 153 (2.78 kills/set). Gouard was fourth with 99 kills (1.68 kills/set).
 
Dion was fourth in the OVC for service aces with 23 (0.39 aces per set). She was also ninth in the conference with 216 total digs (team-high). Malloy was second on the team with 186 digs followed by Beilsmith (163) and Ochs (155).
 
Ochs was third in the OVC for assists with 608 (10.31 assists/set) for 2020-21 All-OVC First-Team and All-Tournament Team laurels.
 
The 2021 roster features 10 upperclassmen and two newcomers in freshmen Megan Harris (defensive specialist/libero) and Avery Torrey (rightside hitter).
 
The team also includes nine OVC Tournament Champions from the 2019 season.
 
Academic Excellence
Colby Greene, Izzy Lukens, Addy McAleer and Elissa Moylan earned perfect 4.0 GPAs during the 2020-21 academic year and were named Ohio Valley Conference Academic Medals of Honor recipients.
 
SEMO volleyball also had 13 student-athletes listed on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2020-21 academic year. Maggie Adams, Zoey Beasley, Tara Beilsmith, Kayla Closset, Caroline Draver, Talia Gouard, Colby Greene, Izzy Lukens, Laney Malloy, Addy McAleer, Elissa Moylan, Claire Ochs and Kylie Plant all notched at least a 3.25 grade point average in 2020-21.
 
Looking Ahead
Following this weekend's final regular-season series, SEMO will compete at the 2021 OVC Championship Tournament. It will mark the Redhawks fifth-straight appearance in the tournament and 28th time in program history.