CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (9-3) secured the 2021 Redhawks Invitational Championship with a commanding 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-12, 25-18) of Central Arkansas (2-7) Saturday afternoon at Houck Field House.
SEMO stayed perfect at its second home tournament to conclude its non-conference slate. The Redhawks registered their fourth 3-0 sweep of the season in the Redhawks Invitational finale Saturday.
Laney Malloy was named the 2021 Redhawks Invitational MVP while
Colby Greene and
Zoey Beasley joined her on the all-tournament team.
For Malloy, it was her eighth career all-tournament team and second MVP honor. Greene and Beasley were both selected to their first career all-tournament teams.
Malloy paced the Redhawks over the two-day tournament, finishing with 45 kills on a .441 hitting percentage to go-along with 20 digs and six service aces. She notched 11 kills on a .357 clip Saturday against UCA.
Greene added 10 kills versus Central Arkansas on a .450 rate while Beasley chipped in seven (.500 hitting percentage). The duo finished with 26 (.274) and 27 (.305) total kills, respectively, at the tournament.
Claire Ochs completed the Invitational with 112 assists and 16 digs as SEMO notched a .334 hitting percentage. Ochs dished out 30 assists in the final match with the Sugar Bears.
Tara Beilsmith accumulated 48 digs (4.80 digs/set) including 15 Saturday.
SEMO started Saturday's contest with UCA with a 6-0 advantage. Malloy had three-straight kills during the opening sequence.
A 7-1 run by the Redhawks extended the margin to 20-10.
Ally Dion placed a pair of service aces to conclude the rally. Malloy had three of her five, first set kills during the run.
Greene finished the first frame with three kills as the Redhawks hit at a match-best pace of .394.
SEMO wrapped up the first set on four-straight points, 25-13. Ochs and
Talia Gouard teamed up for a block assist before a service ace from
Megan Harris.
In the second stanza, the Redhawks took a 10-6 edge after a Gouard service ace.
SEMO then doubled its advantage to 16-8 after a 6-0 run. Ochs tallied a pair of aces during the run.
Mackenzie Meehan and Greene combined for a block assist to widen the gap to 20-11. Meehan finished the match with two kills and three total blocks.
SEMO finalized the frame with a 5-0 rally, 25-12. Meehan added a kill and block assist with Beasley while Malloy tallied three aces including consecutive ones and the set-clinching one.
Malloy matched a career-best four aces Saturday.
In the third frame, SEMO went up 15-9 after kills from Ochs and Beasley. Greene then tallied a kill before a service ace from
Kayla Closset pushed the margin to 19-14.
The Redhawks utilized a 5-0 run to bring on match point at 24-15. Malloy belted a kill before a service ace from Beilsmith. Greene and
Caroline Draver both added rally stoppers before a solo block from Meehan in the rally.
Meehan then claimed the victory with a kill, 25-18.
SEMO hit over .300 for the third-straight match Saturday, finishing with .359 after going .307 in the match with Tulsa and .355 in the rivalry contest against Southern Illinois.
The Redhawks outscored UCA, 57-38. For the second-straight match, SEMO compiled 12 service aces, finishing the tournament with 30.
The Redhawks also out blocked the Sugar Bears, 7-3. Greene and Meehan each had three while Gouard and
Elissa Moylan tallied two apiece.
2021 Redhawks Invitational All-Tournament Team
Laney Malloy, MVP, SEMO
Colby Greene, SEMO
Zoey Beasley, SEMO
Kayley Cassaday, Tulsa
Avery Kalsu, Tulsa
Tatum Tornatta, SIU
Lexi Miller, UCA
With the win, the Redhawks finished non-conference play with a 9-3 mark.
SEMO next hits the road for its 2021 Ohio Valley Conference opening series at Tennessee State Sept. 24-25 in Nashville, Tennessee. Match times are set for 6 p.m., CT and 2 p.m. in the Friday, Saturday matchup in the Music City.
