EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southeast Missouri volleyball (11-4, 3-1 OVC) dropped the second match of the weekend to SIUE (7-8, 1-3 OVC) by a final score of 3-2 at First Community Arena Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Redhawks lost the match 23-25, 25-18, 25-15, 21-25, and 6-15 in the final set to drop their first match in the Ohio Valley Conference. 
 
Libero Tara Beilsmith had a standout defensive performance on Saturday afternoon as she recorded 44 digs in the five-set thriller for a new season-high in the category. 
 
Four other Redhawks finished in double-digit digs with Lucy Arndt (12), Kayla Closset (12), Izzy Lukens (10), and Nina Schuberth (13). 
 
Two Redhawks finished with double-digit kills in freshman Lucy Arndt and senior Marisa Guisti. The pair combined for 16 and 11, respecitvley. 
 
In the fifth set, SIUE jumped out to a 7-3 lead and never looked back as the Redhawks utilized a timeout trailing 11-5. A quick point out of the timeout was the final point for SEMO as the Cougars closed the match on a 8-2 scoring run. 
 
As a team, SEMO finished with a .169 hitting-percentage led by Talia Gouard with a .308 mark. Gouard finished with six kills on 13 attempts. 
 
SIUE had a strong presence at the net defensively, recording 15 blocks to juts eight from SEMO. 
 
SEMO volleyball will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 6, when they take on UT Martin in Cape Girardeau, Mo. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. at Houck Field House.