CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Southeast Missouri State (11-7, 4-2 OVC) edged Southern Indiana (7-11, 3-3 OVC) in a five-set thriller at Houck Field House on Friday, winning 22-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12.

Southeast Missouri recorded 10 service aces and 14 total blocks to secure the victory in front of 170 spectators.

First Set  
- Southern Indiana started strong with a service ace from Ashby Willis to take a 5-4 lead.  
- Southeast Missouri responded with back-to-back kills from Lucy Arndt to level the score at 6-6.  
- The Screaming Eagles capitalized on multiple attack errors by SEMO, extending their lead to 13-8.  
- SEMO closed the gap to 22-20 with a kill by Alaina Lester, but USI secured the set 25-22 with a service ace from Audrey Small.  

Second Set  
- Southern Indiana surged ahead early with a 3-0 lead, featuring two kills by Willis.  
- Southeast Missouri rallied back from a deficit, tying the set at 4-4 with a block by Katherine St. John and Ramiri Gardner.  
- SEMO took control with a 6-point run, highlighted by a service ace from Arndt, extending the lead to 18-10.  
- Marin Johnson's kill sealed the set for SEMO at 25-15, capping off a balanced team performance.  

Third Set  
- Southern Indiana briefly led 3-2 after a kill by Bianca Anderson, assisted by Aysa Thomas.  
- Southeast Missouri rallied to a 5-3 advantage as Johnson delivered a block and benefited from a USI attack error.  
- Leah Coleman from USI recorded a kill to level the score at 10-10, maintaining competitive tension.  
- Carley Wright's kill extended USI's lead to 20-16, supported by a service ace from Kerigan Fehr.

Fourth Set  
- Reagan Nelson opened the scoring for Southeast Missouri with a kill assisted by Nina Schuberth.  
- Southern Indiana responded with a service ace by Willis, tying the set at 4-4.  
- A series of attack errors by Southern Indiana allowed SEMO to build momentum, advancing their lead to 11-9.  
- Nelson secured the set for Southeast Missouri with two consecutive kills, closing the period 25-20.

Fifth Set  
- SEMO began with an early advantage as Nelson scored a kill, assisted by Megan Holder.  
- Southern Indiana tied the set at 2-2 with a kill from Willis, assisted by Thomas.  
- Nelson played a pivotal role with multiple kills, including a crucial one that put SEMO ahead 13-11.  
- Harper Highfill secured the set with a service ace, followed by another Nelson kill to close the set 15-12.

SEMO Top Performers
Lucy Arndt  
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- 15 kills (.172 hitting percentage)  
- 11 digs  
- 17.0 total points  

Nina Schuberth  
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- 9 assists  
- 30 digs  
- 5 service aces  

Marin Johnson  
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- 13 kills (.127 hitting percentage)  
- 5 total blocks (2 solo)  
- 17.5 total points  

Reagan Nelson  
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- 15 kills (.406 hitting percentage)  
- 12 digs  
- 16.0 total points  

Game Notes:  
- Freshman Reagan Nelson finished with a career-high 15 kills and recorded a double-double with 12 digs.

Looking ahead, Southeast Missouri will host Southern Illinois on October 14 at 6 p.m. The match will take place at Houck Field House in Cape Girardeau, Mo.