By Chandler Collins
Assistant Director for Straegic Communications

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Junior Lucy Arndt is entering her third season with the Southeast Missouri Volleyball program and has already made a historical impact in just two seasons.  
 
After becoming just the second player in SEMO program history to win the Ohio Valley Conference 'Freshman of the Year' following the 2023 campaign, Arndt is third all-time in single season kills (446) and third in service aces (40, 2024). She is a two-time All-OVC First Team selection and is a 2024 OVC Regular Season Champion so far. 
 
A Family Affair
Coming from a volleyball background, Arndt started playing competitively at a young age and was already playing up a grade in the fifth grade.
 
While SEMO has provided Arndt with another family, she wouldn't be where she is today without her actual family.
 
"I first got into sports when I was little because my mom played in college, and my sister played in college," Arndt said. "Sports have really been around my family my whole life, especially volleyball."
 
With her mom and sister both playing volleyball at the collegiate level, Arndt looked up to them as role models and knew that she wanted to follow in their footsteps and play at the next level.
 
"I would have to say that I had a lot of memories from when I was younger playing volleyball," Arndt shared. "I came from a small school, so I got to do a little bit of everything. I was a setter and a hitter, so we ran a little bit of a 6-2. That was fun to be able to do that."
 
"I think I realized at a very young age that I wanted to play volleyball for the rest of my life," she said. "My sister played, so I've always wanted to be like her. Of course, I wanted to do it at the highest level that I could. Volleyball has always been a huge part of my life, and I have my family to thank for that."
 
 The Next Level
After a decorated high school career, Arndt was off to the races in finding her future college home.
 
She attended every camp she could, played in front of coaches, made highlight tapes, and reached out to as many coaches as possible.
 
After going on numerous visits, Arndt finally found her home at Southeast Missouri State University.
 
"When I went on my visit to SEMO, it was just a different feeling," Arndt added. "I knew right away once I stepped on campus that this was going to be my home for the next four years. It was kind of a weird feeling that I didn't feel with other schools. It just felt like home right away. The coaching staff, the campus, the community, it really felt like a family, and I just knew right away that it was going to be my home."
 
The Grind
While Arndt has already experienced a lot of success at SEMO, the transition from high school to college was anything but easy.
 
"The transition from high school to college was definitely challenging," Arndt explained. "In high school, the game is competitive, but college is just a whole different level. The speed and the overall play are completely different. It's just more intense, and you have to adjust quickly, or you're going to fall behind."
 
Luckily for Arndt, she had great teammates and coaches to help her along the way.
 
"I couldn't have done it without my teammates and my coaches," Arndt stated. "They made it so much easier for me to fit right in. They were so welcoming, and it was very easy to have them by my side. They pushed me every day to get better."
 
In fact, Arndt credits her coaches and teammates for her personal success during her first two seasons at SEMO.
 
"I would say my biggest obstacle that I had to overcome was being that person that everyone looked to on the court," Arndt said. "At first, that pressure felt overwhelming because I didn't want to let my teammates, the fans, my parents, or my coaches down. Over time, I learned to use that pressure as motivation instead of stress. It's honestly a pleasure to have that pressure, so I just focus on staying calm and trusting myself and the people around me to really overcome that."
 
 Leaving a Legacy
In just two seasons, Arndt has already put together a decorated career at SEMO.
 
She was named the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year for the first time since Emily Scannell in 2000 and is a two-time All-OVC First Team selection.
 
"It has been such a huge honor to receive those awards, but I wouldn't have achieved them without the support of my coaches and teammates," Arndt expressed. "Going forward, I use that as motivation to keep getting better every year and not settling for what I've already accomplished."
 
With two years remaining in her Redhawks career, Arndt is focused on adding to her already impressive resume.
 
"I still have a lot of goals ahead of me, and I'm excited to keep working hard to achieve them," Arndt said.
 
Game Week
Southeast Missouri Volleyball will begin the 2025 campaign this Friday, August 29, with a pair of matches against Grambling State and tournament-host Mississippi State. The Redhawks will play the first match at 11 a.m. before returning for a 6 p.m. matchup with MSU.