Match 10 & 11

Tournament Information 
Event: Saluki Invitational
Dates: Friday, Sept. 20 - Saturday, Sept. 21
Times: Friday - 12 p.m. | Saturday - 3 p.m.
Opponent: Friday-Missouri State | Saturday-Southern Illinois
Location: Carbondale, Ill. 
Venue: Davies Gym

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X: @SEMOVb
Live Stats: Missouri State | Southern Illinois

Media Guide (PDF)

Redhawks Wrap Up Non-Conference Play at Saluki Invitational Friday & Saturday
Southeast Missouri volleyball (3-6) will wrap up the non-conference portion of the 2024 schedule Friday through Saturday, Sept. 20-21, at the Saluki Invitational hosted by Southern Illinois. The Redhawks will face off against Missouri State and Southern Illinois, respectively, from the Davies Gym in Carbondale, Ill. 
 
On the Docket
SEMO will begin the invitational on Friday, Sept. 20, against Missouri Valley Conference member Missouri State (5-5) at 12 p.m., CT. in Carbondale. The Redhawks will then wrap-up non-conference play on Saturday afternoon against the host, Southern Illinois, at 3 p.m. from the Davies Gym. 
 
Series History
Friday's match with Missouri State will mark the 14^th meeting between SEMO and the in-state foe in the first meeting since 2019. MSU holds an 11-2 series lead against the Redhawks, winning the last meeting 3-1 on August 31, 2019. The Redhawks last defeated MSU in 1998 in a 3-0 sweep. 
 
The Salukis and Redhawks will matchup on Saturday for the 35^th time between the two with SIU holding a 23-11 series advantage. The teams met a year ago in Cape Girardeau in a match that saw SIU win, 3-1, inside Houck Field House. SIU is on a two-game winning streak in the series as SEMO last defeated SIU on Sept. 17, 2021 (3-0). 
 
Johnson x3
Through three tournaments in 2024, graduate student rightside hitter Abby Johnson has earned all-tournament honors with the most recent coming from the Chippewa Invitational in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Johsnon recorded 28 kills and nine blocks over the three-game weekend. 
 
In the Lineup
Sophomore Lucy Arndt and freshman Alaina Lester have started all nine matches so far for the Redhawks in 2024. The duo are the only two that have started every single match on the season. Arndt currently leads the Redhawks with 96 total kills and 370 total attacks. Lester has done most of her damage at the net, on the defensive side, with 34 total blocks (six solo & 28 block assists). 
 
The Libero
Graduate student transfer Abbey Richman has been the primary libero for the Redhawks through the first nine matches of the season. She has recorded 157 total digs from the back line for a 4.76 digs-per-set mark. Over 162 total attempts, Richman has just 14 receiving errors on the season. 
 
Team Offense
As a team, SEMO has registered 374 total kills on the season with an 11.0 kills-per-set mark. On the season, the offense has registered 1205 total attacks, with just 174 errors, for a .166 team hitting-percentage. 
 
OVC Rankings
Here is how the Redhawks stack up against conference opponents heading into the final weekend of non-conference play: 
 

• Ramiri Gardner ranks third in the conference in hitting percentage (.322)
• Freshman setter Megan Holder ranks ninth in assists, dishing out 144 through 28 sets
• Alaina Lester is fifth in the league in total blocks (34) 
• Holder ranks third in the OVC in service aces (13)
• Lucy Arndt ranks eighth in the conference with 96 kills (2.82 kills-per-set)
• Libero Abbey Richman ranks third with 157 total digs through nine matches
• As a team, SEMO ranks fourth in blocks (72) and fifth in service aces (52)

 
Scouting the Opponent
Missouri State
The Bears are led by fifth year head coach Steve McRoberts and enter the Saluki Invitational with a 5-5 overall record. McRoberts holds a 62-62 record in five seasons at MSU. 
 
MSU began their season with two wins over USC-Upstate (3-1) and UNC Greensboro (3-2) in the Spartan Classic before losing to Robert Morris (3-1) to begin the season. The Bears swept the Skyhawk Classic in Martin, Tenn. before dropping their next three matches at home in the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational in Springfield, Mo. 
 
MVC Freshman of the Week, Aniya Joseph, reached 100 kills in MSU's seventh match of the season as she leads the offense. Freshman Rilynn Finley began the season with three-straight double-digit kills performances as the duo has powered the Bears so far this season. 
 
Southern Illinois
The Salukis enter the match with a 6-3 overall record and are currently on a one-match win streak after most recently sweeping Austin Peay at the Lindenwood Invitational. 
 
SIU is led by Anna Jaworski who ranks fourth all-time in SIU history with 3,349 assists over her career. Larissa Seger has been the benefactor of Jaworski assists as she ranks seventh in the Missouri Valley with a .310 hitting-percentage. She has recorded 30 blocks for a 0.83 blocks-per-set mark. 
 
SIU has dialed it up from the service line led by Ema Stermenska who has recorded 14 aces on the season and ranks sixth in the conference. 
 
Eva Krakowski is the reigning MVC Freshman of the Week after a 17 kills, eight block performance against UT Martin (Sept. 10). 
 
Looking Ahead
SEMO volleyball will begin the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference season next weekend, Sept. 27-28, at Southern Indiana.