CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Red-hot Southeast Missouri (10-2, 1-0) collides with SIU Edwardsville (12-3, 2-0) for sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings Saturday. Match time is set for 1:30 p.m., CT in Edwardsville, Illinois.
SEMO and SIUE are right where they were picked before the 2023 campaign started, tied for first in the OVC. The teams are a combined 22-5 overall and 3-0 in conference action thus far.
The Redhawks enter the matchup on a nine-match winning streak and have gone unbeaten in over a month. SEMO's last loss was against former OVC member Austin Peay on Feb. 4. Since then, the Redhawks have posted five shutouts in their previous nine victories alone.
One more win will give SEMO its second 10-match winning streak under Head Coach
Mary Beth Gunn. The Redhawks' longest such streak with Gunn at the helm came two years ago when SEMO ripped off 11-straight victories in 2021.
The Redhawks have simply dominated as of late not allowing a single point in five of their last six outings. SEMO blanked Illinois-Springfield, Missouri State twice, UT Southern and began league play with a 7-0 road win at Lindenwood.
SEMO is at 10 wins in a season for the third-straight year and fourth time since 2019. The only year the Redhawks couldn't reach double-digit wins in that stretch was when COVID-riddled 2020 was shortened to just 10 matches.
Between tournament and dual action in 2022-23, four Redhawks have 20 wins in singles play.
Vivian Lai,
Ksenia Shikanova and
Romana Tarajova are all 20-5, while Trinity Calinescu is close behind with a 20-6 mark.
In dual competition alone,
Daniela Hlacikova leads the way with a 10-2 singles mark, including a 7-1 record at No. 1 and 3-1 record at No. 2.
Teona Velkoska and Shikanova are behind here with nine wins each. Hlacikova has been tabbed OVC Player of the Week twice for her efforts this spring, as well.
On the doubles side, Calinescu and Lai are undefeated at 5-0 at the No. 3 position this spring, while Shikanova and Tarajova have only one loss (6-1) in the top spot of the doubles lineup.
Gunn goes for her 78th career win as SEMO's eighth-year head coach.
