Match #27 | OVC #15
Southeast Missouri (20-6, 11-3 OVC)
at Murray State (13-10, 7-6 OVC)
Match Information
Date: Friday, Nov. 5, 2021
Venue: Racer Arena
Location: Murray, Ky.
First Serve: 6 p.m., CT
All-Time Series: SEMO leads 56-33
Last Meetings: SEMO 3-0 Wins | March 28-29, 2021 | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | Houck Field House
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Video: ESPN+
 
Match #28 | OVC #16
Southeast Missouri (20-6, 11-3 OVC)
at Murray State (13-10, 7-6 OVC)
Match Information
Date: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021
Venue: Racer Arena
Location: Murray, Ky.
First Serve: 6 p.m., CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Video: ESPN+
 
Media Coverage
Twitter: @SEMOvb
Media Guide: Southeast Missouri
Match Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
Redhawks Head to OVC Rival Murray State for Final Regular-Season Road Series Friday and Saturday
Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (20-6, 11-3 OVC) heads to Murray, Kentucky, for its final regular-season road series against Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State (13-10, 7-6 OVC) Friday and Saturday. Match times are set for 6 p.m., CT in the weekend series held at Racer Arena.
 
SEMO is currently second in the OVC standings behind Morehead State (16-9, 12-2 OVC) who the Redhawks will host for Senior Weekend Nov. 12-13 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
 
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 Murray State, 56-33. The Redhawks have won the last three meetings between the two institutions.
 
SEMO swept the Racers in both matches during the 2020-21 regular season series March 28-29, 2021 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Zoey Beasley led the Redhawks on Senior Day 2020-21 with 15 kills after Talia Gouard connected on 14 in the opener.

Scouting the Racers
Murray State is currently fifth in the OVC standings with a league mark of 7-6. The Racers most recently split its road series with Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee. Murray State swept the Bruins before falling in four sets.
 
Jayla Holcombe notched a pair of double-digit kill matches at Belmont.
 
Sister, Sister
Junior outside hitter Zoey Beasley will face-off against her sister Taylor Beasley in the weekend series at Murray State. Taylor Beasley is a sophomore middle blocker. The sisters previously competed against each other during the 2020-21 regular season with Zoey winning with SEMO in both matches.
 
SEMO Racer Connection
Murray State Head Coach David Schwepker takes on his alma mater, Southeast Missouri (1987), for his 24th season as coach of the Racers. Schwepker spent time as an assistant at SEMO from 1992-94 and helped the Redhawks to two OVC regular season titles (1993 and '94) and an OVC Tournament title in 1994.
 
Trio of Redhawks Earn OVC Weekly Honors
Laney Malloy, Claire Ochs and Tara Beilsmith combined for a trio of Ohio Valley Conference Weekly honors, the league announced Monday. Malloy was named the Offensive Player of the Week while Ochs earned Setter of the Week. Beilsmith garnered Defensive Player of the Week. SEMO last swept the three weekly awards in 2008 (Sept. 15) as Claire Keaton (Offensive), Molly Davis (Defensive) and Alyssa Aston (Setter) teamed up for the honors. 
 
Malloy led the Redhawks offense with 43 kills (5.38 kills/set) on a .298 hitting clip this past week. She opened the series with a career best 26 kills and 16 digs in SEMO's five set thriller over the Govs on Oct. 28. The double-double was Malloy's 11th of the season. Malloy then added 17 kills and eight digs on a .424 rate in the series finale on Oct. 29.
 
She also concluded the week with 24 digs and seven assists for 43 points (5.38 points/set).
 
The honor marked the fifth career weekly accolade for Malloy and third during the 2021 season.
 
Ochs led the Redhawks with 96 assists (12.00 assists/set) and 33 digs (4.12 digs/set) as SEMO hit at a rate of .272 this past week. She opened the series with a career-best 60 assists to go along with 21 digs and a personal-best matching eight kills (Oct. 28). Ochs then posted 36 assists with 12 digs in the series finale (Oct. 29). SEMO notched a .371 hitting clip in the Friday closer. 
 
Ochs also had nine kills, two aces and three blocks in the series with Austin Peay.
 
The honor is the fifth career OVC weekly laurel and fourth career OVC Setter of the Week award for Ochs. It is the third time in 2021 Ochs has earned the recognition from the conference. 
 
Beilsmith paced the SEMO defense with 42 digs (5.25 digs/set) this past week against Austin Peay. She opened the series with 26 digs and two assists in the series opener (Oct. 28). Beilsmith then tallied 16 digs and four assists in the series clincher (Oct. 29). 
 
She also compiled six assists and a service ace over the two matches.
 
The weekly honor marks the third for Beilsmith this season and sixth in her career.

Redhawks Sweep Series with Austin Peay
SEMO secured the regular-season series sweep over Austin Peay with a five set win on Oct. 28 followed by a 3-0 victory on Oct. 29. With the wins, the Redhawks leap frogged the Governors in the OVC standings.
 
The Redhawks notched their 11th, 3-0 sweep of the season on Oct. 29 and have 20 victories on the campaign. SEMO last registered 20 wins in 2019, finishing with an overall mark of 23-11. The Redhawks have also registered 10 or more OVC victories in each of the past three seasons.
 
Zoey Beasley turned in 38 kills over the two matches including a personal best 25 kills (.306) in the five-set opener. Colby Greene finished the week with 16 kills.
 
Talia Gouard led SEMO blocking over the series with eight blocks (one solo, seven assists) to go with 13 kills.
 
Kills Leader
With 43 kills this past week against Austin Peay, senior Laney Malloy overtook Krissa Gearring (1,309, 2014-17) for the career kills leader (25-point rally scoring era 2008-present) with 1,326 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 4,257 total attacks in her career and 1,167 in 2021.
 
Overall, Malloy ranks third in SEMO program history as Krista Haukap had 4,921 from 1997-2000.
 
Ochs in 4K
Senior setter Claire Ochs is 57 assists away from reaching 4,000 in her career as a Redhawk. Ochs currently ranks second in SEMO program history (25-point rally scoring era from 2008 to present) with 3,943. She will become the sixth SEMO volleyball player in program history to reach the milestone.
 
Ochs currently has 1,024 assists in 2021 to go along with 285 digs. She ranks sixth for assists in a single-season at SEMO. 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 517 total digs (first in the OVC) in 2021. She is third in the OVC with 5.23 digs per set (15th 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 4.82 digs/set (246 digs).

Ochs Leads the OVC for Assists
Claire Ochs paces the NCAA with 1,024 assists this season, which is also first in the OVC. Ochs is averaging 10.24 assists/set (third in the OVC). She also ranks ninth in the OVC with 286 digs.
  
Ochs paces the Redhawks with 14 double-doubles in 2021.
 
In league play, Ochs is second with 531 assists (10.41 assists/set, fourth).
 
Malloy Ranks Top-3 in the OVC
Laney Malloy leads the league in 2021 with 454.5 total points, 33 service aces and 1,166 total attacks. She is second with 403 total kills (4.07 kills/set), 11.78 attacks per set and 4.59 points per set.
 
Malloy is also 11th in the conference with 275 digs.
 
In OVC play, Malloy ranks first with 211 kills (4.14 kills/set, second) followed by Zoey Beasley (second, 193 kills, 3.78 kills/set, third). Malloy is also the conference leader for points (235.0, 4.61 points/set).

Malloy has posted double-digit kills in 22 matches in 2021. She registered a career-best 26 kills to complement 16 digs most recently 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 329 kills (3.32 kills/set, fifth in the OVC) in 2021, which ranks fourth in the OVC. She is also sixth in the league with 356.5 points and seventh with 878 total attacks.
 
In league play, she is third for kills (193, 3.78 kills/set) and points (207.0 total points, 4.06 points/set, fourth).

Beasley has led the Redhawks offensively in four of the last nine matches. She most recently had a career best 25 kills in the opener with Austin Peay on Oct. 28.

Beasley 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 253 kills. She ranks 15th in the OVC with 2.58 kills per set.
 
She most recently posted 16 kills in the series with Austin Peay Oct. 28-29.
 
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 nine of the last 12 matches. Meehan registered a career-high seven in the series finales at Eastern Illinois (Oct. 9) and at UT Martin (Oct. 12), respectively. She most recently 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 12 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 1.05 blocks/set (40.0 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 third in the conference during the OVC slate with 0.37 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).  
 
Block Party!!
Talia Gouard (67.0 total blocks, 0.74 blocks/set), Colby Greene (57.0 total blocks, 0.58 blocks/set), Mackenzie Meehan (47.0 total blocks, 1.02 blocks/set) and Elissa Moylan (47.0 total blocks, 0.73 block/set) pace the Redhawks in 2021 at the net as SEMO ranks sixth in the league with 191.5 total blocks (1.93 blocks/set, eighth in the OVC).
 
Zoey Beasley has chipped in 42.0 (0.42 blocks/set) while Claire Ochs and Laney Malloy have 31 (0.31 blocks/set) and 30 (0.30 blocks/set), respectively.
 
Leading the Conference
SEMO leads the OVC for team assists (1,214, third in the NCAA), team digs (1,693, fourth in the NCAA), team kills (1,327, fourth in the NCAA), team service aces (148), match win loss percentage (.769), opposing hitting percentage (.148, 12th in the NCAA) and team total attacks (3,713, fourth in the NCAA),

SEMO is also second in the conference for aces per set (1.49), digs per set (17.10), hitting percentage (.221) and kills per set (13.40).
 
The Redhawks rank third for assists per set (12.26).
 
In league play, SEMO is second for hitting percentage (.230), opponent hitting percentage (.145) and digs (16.41 digs/set, 837). The team is also third for service aces (1.41 aces/set, 72) and kills (13.84 kills/set, 706)
 
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 11 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 1,129 career digs and first for career kills with 1,326.

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 1,168 in her career to complement 3,943 career assists.
 
Beilsmith has 1,322 career digs as a Redhawk. She is sixth all-time for career digs in the 25-point rally-scoring era (2008-present) followed by Ochs who is eighth.
 
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.  
 
SEMO Schedule
The Redhawks will play 30 regular-season matches along with an exhibition to start the season. The schedule features four non-conference tournaments including two in Cape and a full 18-match Ohio Valley Conference slate. The Redhawks will host 16 home contests (including an exhibition) in 2021.
   
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
SEMO next concludes the 2021 OVC regular season Nov. 12-13 when the Redhawks host OVC leading Morehead State at Houck Field House. Match times are set for 6 p.m., CT and 2 p.m. in the Friday, Saturday series.
 
SEMO will recognize seniors Ally Dion, Laney Malloy, Elissa Moylan, Claire Ochs and Caroline Draver on Senior Day Nov. 12.