COOKEVILLE, Tenn.— Southeast Missouri State (9-6, 2-1 OVC) defeated Tennessee Tech (5-10, 2-1 OVC) in four sets on Thursday night at the Eblen Center, taking the match 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-20.

SEMO capitalized on a strong serving performance with nine aces to secure the second Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season. 

First Set  
- Tennessee Tech opened with a service ace from Marin Johnson, establishing an early lead.  
- Southeast Missouri State responded with a service ace by Bella Powell, leveling the score at 3-3.  
- The set saw a back-and-forth battle, highlighted by kills from Audrey Berkebile and Bella Powell.  
- Alayna Pierce's back-to-back kills clinched the set for the Golden Eagles, 25-23.

Second Set  
- The Golden Eagles started strong with a kill by Ava Schubert from Jordan Karlen, setting an early tone.  
- Southeast Missouri State responded with a pair of kills from Marin Johnson, leveling the score and shifting momentum.  
- Alayna Pierce kept the Golden Eagles in the contest with multiple kills, maintaining a narrow lead throughout the middle of the set.  
- Southeast Missouri State closed the set with a decisive 3-0 run, including a block by Kara Oxenknecht and Ramiri Gardner, securing the set 25-23.

Third Set  
- The Golden Eagles gained early momentum with a 6-3 lead, highlighted by two kills from Alayna Pierce and a service ace from Ella Watford.  
- Southeast Missouri State responded with a four-point run, including a service ace by Ellie Burns and a kill from Ramiri Gardner, to take an 8-6 lead.  
- A critical service ace by Lucy Arndt extended Southeast Missouri State's advantage to 13-10, marking a pivotal shift in the set.  
- Kara Oxenknecht and Lucy Arndt combined for a decisive block to help Southeast Missouri State close out the set 25-22.

Fourth Set  
- Southeast Missouri State started strong with consecutive kills by Kara Oxenknecht and Avery Torrey, taking a 2-0 lead.  
- Lucy Arndt contributed significantly with a kill and back-to-back service aces, extending the lead to 10-7.  
- The Golden Eagles narrowed the gap to 20-18 with a service ace by Bella Powell, but Southeast Missouri State responded with an Arndt kill.  
- The set concluded with a service ace from Marin Johnson, securing Southeast Missouri State's 25-20 victory.

SEMO Top Performers
Kara Oxenknecht  
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- eight kills on a .545 hitting percentage  
- five blocks  
- four digs  

Lucy Arndt  
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- 10 kills  
- five service aces  
- 11 digs  
- 17.5 points total  

Nina Schuberth  
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- 16 digs  
- six assists  

Megan Holder  
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- 18 assists  
- 14 digs  
- one service ace  

Game Notes:
- Megan Holder recorded her 1,000th career assist in set one on Thursday night.
- Thursday's match was the first 4-set victory of the season.

Looking ahead, Southeast Missouri State will face the Golden Eagles on Friday, Oct. 3, in Cookeville, Tenn. Match time is set for 4 p.m.