CHARLESTON, Ill. – Southeast Missouri volleyball (17-5, 9-2 OVC) completed a five-set thrilling victory on Saturday afternoon downing Eastern Illinois (20-3, 10-2 OVC) by a final score of 3-2 at Lantz Arena in Charleston. 
 
SEMO won the match 26-24, 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 15-8 in a match that lasted two hours and 50 minutes in front of a crowd of 415. 
 
Three different Redhawks finished with double-digit kills, led by Lucy Arndt with 18. Seniors Kayla Closset and Marisa Guisti finished with 16 and 12, respectively. 
 
As a team, SEMO was outhit by EIU, .256 to .269, respectively, but the Redhawks hit .526 in the fifth set to down EIU as the two leaders in the OVC split the season-series. 
 
Saturday's match featured 35 different times the score was tied and featured 19 lead changes. 
 
Libero Tara Beilsmith had a stellar day in defense for the Redhawks. Beilsmith, from Weldon Spring, Mo., finished with 32 digs and registered 15 receptions with just three errors (.833). She also dished out five assists to help SEMO pick up their ninth win in the Ohio Valley Conference. 
 
Setter Izzy Lukens continued to dish out assists left and right as the senior finished with 45. In the two-game series, Lukens finished with 87 total assists. 
 
Outside hitter Kayla Closset finished with a double-double with her 16 kills and 14 digs. Closset finished with a .229 hitting percentage.
 
SEMO jumped out to a quick two sets to zero lead as the Redhawks hit .250 and .333, respectively, to start the match. 
 
EIU would respond in the third and fourth, outhitting the Redhawks in each set. As a team, EIU finished with a .269 hitting-percentage led by Giovana Larregui Lopez who finished with 23 kills. 
 
SEMO volleyball will be back in action on Monday, Oct. 30, when they host Little Rock for Neon Night at Houck Field House. First serve is slated for 6 p.m., CT.