STARKVILLE, Miss. – Southeast Missouri Volleyball (1-1) split a pair of matches on opening day beginning with a 3-0 sweep of Grambling State, before falling to Mississippi State, 3-0. 
 
Grambling State
Southeast Mo. St. opened the first set with a strong performance, overcoming an early deficit to secure a 25-14 victory. After trailing 2-0, the Redhawks rallied with a crucial 6-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Nina Schuberth and a kill from Lucy Arndt at 7-3. Katy St. John and Alaina Lester each contributed key points to widen the lead, with Avery Torrey sealing the set with a decisive kill from an assist by Alandry Below.
 
Southeast Missouri State started the second set with a burst of energy, capitalizing on a service error from Grambling to take the first point at 1-0. Despite trailing 10-5, SEMO rallied with an impressive run, including contributions from St. John and Arndt, to tie the score at 14-14. Kara Oxenknecht played a critical role in the latter part of the set, helping to block a series of Grambling attacks and contributing key kills. The set concluded with Mackenzie Tucker making an impactful entrance, serving two consecutive aces to help SEMO secure the set 25-16.
 
The third set began with a strong performance by Southeast Mo. St., who quickly turned a tied score into a 5-1 lead, highlighted by a kill from St. John at 0-1. The team maintained momentum with Arndt contributing multiple kills, helping to stretch the lead to 10-4. Reagan Nelson's service aces and Lester's blocks further widened the gap, bringing the score to 21-9. Tucker and Oxenknecht added key kills as Southeast Mo. St. closed the set with a decisive 25-11 victory, with Nelson securing the final point.
 
SEMO Top Performers vs. Grambling State
Lucy Arndt
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- 10 kills on 20 attempts, hitting .500
- 3 digs
- 2 total blocks
 
Megan Holder
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- 16 assists
- 7 digs
 
Alandry Below
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- 12 assists
- 6 digs
 
Katherine St. John
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- 7 kills on 9 attempts, hitting .778
- 1 total block
 
Kara Oxenknecht
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- 4 kills on 6 attempts, hitting .667
- 4 total blocks
 
With the win, Southeast Mo. St. improved to 1-0 overall. The loss left Grambling at 0-1 overall.
 
Game Notes:
- Season opening win in first meeting with Grambling State in school history.
- Julie Yankus' 229th career victory.
 
Mississippi State
Set 1
- Mississippi State secured the set with a score of 25-16.
- Gha'Naye Whitfield-Moss led the Bulldogs with multiple kills and a block.
- Lindsey Mangelson contributed two service aces for Mississippi State.
- Lucy Arndt from Southeast Missouri State recorded several key kills.
- Alaina Lester also added multiple kills to the Redhawks' score.
 
Set 2
- Mississippi State won the second set 25-18.
- Arndt led the Redhawks with four kills in the set.
- Mangelson recorded five kills for the Bulldogs during this set.
- Southeast Missouri State had a total of three service aces, contributing to their score.
- Maria Bernardita Aguilar Toranza added four kills for Mississippi State in this set.
 
Set 3
- Mississippi State secured the set with a final score of 25-17.
- Cayley Hanson contributed with a service ace and multiple assists.
- Aguilar Toranza led the Bulldogs with key kills.
- Alandry Below facilitated several successful attacks for Southeast Missouri State.
- Mississippi State had a strong finish with a 6-2 run to close the set.
 
Southeast Missouri State Top Performers vs. MSU
Lucy Arndt
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- 12 kills on 27 attempts (.333 hitting percentage)
- 10 digs
- 12 points total
 
Alandry Below
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- 18 assists
- nine digs
- one service ace
 
Megan Holder
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- 13 assists
- four digs
- one service ace
 
Kara Oxenknecht
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- five kills on 10 attempts (.400 hitting percentage)
- five digs
- one block assist