Comebacks and Big Runs Fuel Volleyball to Multiple Wins Friday

Friday, September 11

Chicago, Ill.

11:00 AM

Southeast Missouri State University

3-5,0-0OVC

Bradley

4-4,0-0MVC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Southeast Mo. St.	21	23	29	25	15	3
Bradley	25	25	27	22	13	2

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Alabama A&M	27	11	22	14	1
Southeast Mo. St.	25	25	25	25	3

Photo by: SEMO Creative Media

9/11/2026 6:25:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHICAGO, ILL. – The Southeast Missouri volleyball team wrapped up the Loyola Invitational Friday defeating Bradley 3-2 and Alabama A&M 3-1.

Match 1

Against the Braves, SEMO went down two sets to none but won the third set 29-27, won the fourth set 25-22 along with the fifth set 15-13. In the fifth set SEMO was down 11-8 but won seven of the final nine points and won the match.

As a team, SEMO racked up 73 kills and carried a .281 hitting percentage along with seven aces and 11 blocks. The Redhawks held the Braves to a .225 hitting percentage and SEMO took advantage of 27 service errors.

Southeast Missouri worked back from a 14-9 deficit in the first set to get within 16-14, with Lucy Arndt, Alaina Lester and Paige Smith recording kills before Ellie Burns' service ace. The Braves later moved ahead 24-19, but Lester's kill and a Smith/Katarina Miscevic block extended the set. The Braves closed it to take the set 25-21.

After falling behind 16-10, Southeast Missouri used kills from Marin Johnson, Arndt, Miscevic and Reagan Nelson to cut the Braves' lead to 20-18. Southeast Missouri continued to stay within reach, getting to 24-23 on another Nelson kill before the Braves took the set 25-23.

Southeast Missouri finished the third set by taking the final two points after a 27-27 tie, with Arndt and Nelson recording consecutive kills to close a 29-27 set win. Earlier, Southeast Missouri answered an 11-7 deficit by winning seven of the next eight rallies, including blocks involving Nelson, Miscevic, Johnson and Lester, to move in front 14-12.

Southeast Missouri answered a 22-20 deficit with the final five points to take the fourth set, 25-22. Nelson started the closing push with a kill, and Burns served the last four points as Johnson contributed two blocks in the finish. Earlier, Miscevic's service turn helped Southeast Missouri move from 10-9 down to a 15-10 lead, including two aces.

Southeast Missouri erased an 11-8 deficit in the fifth set, getting a Lester kill, a Braves attack error and a Nelson kill to pull even at 11-11. After the Braves moved ahead 12-11, Southeast Missouri scored four of the final five points, with Nelson adding a kill and Lester finishing the set with a kill from Megan Holder for a 15-13 win.

SEMO Top Performers

Reagan Nelson
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- 24 kills
- 15 digs
- 25.5 points

Lucy Arndt
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- 21 kills
- 12 digs
- 22.5 points

Megan Holder
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- 35 assists
- 5 digs

Ellie Burns
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- 23 assists
- 13 digs
- 3 service aces

Marin Johnson
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- 8 kills
- 6 total blocks, including 1 solo
- 11.5 points

Match 2
Against the Bulldogs, SEMO put down 52 kills and added 10 blocks en route to the win. Alabama A&M was held to a .138 hitting percentage compared to SEMO's .278.

Southeast Missouri answered a 19-18 deficit by moving ahead 23-20, with Alaina Lester, Reagan Nelson and Lucy Arndt contributing points in that stretch. The Bulldogs came back to lead 24-23, and Southeast Missouri twice tied the set on kills by Arndt and Nelson before the Bulldogs took the opener, 27-25.

Southeast Missouri broke open the second set from an 11-11 tie, scoring the final 14 points to win 25-11. Ellie Burns served the last 13 points and recorded aces at 13-11 and on the final point, while Nelson, Marin Johnson and Arndt added kills during the closing run.

Southeast Missouri erased a 20-21 deficit in the third set and won it 25-22, getting late kills from Johnson and Nelson before Johnson closed the set from Burns. Earlier, Southeast Missouri worked back from 9-14 with kills by Johnson, Lester and Nelson, then later moved from 13-15 to 18-16 with help from Alayna Christner and Sydney Miller kills.

Southeast Missouri broke open the fourth set with a seven-point run from 6-4 to 13-4, starting with a Miller kill before Arndt served six straight points. Nelson had three kills during that serving stretch, and Southeast Missouri later moved to set point with consecutive Bulldogs attack errors. Ava Mathews finished the set with a kill from Brooklyn Ritter for a 25-14 Southeast Missouri score.

Southeast Missouri Top Performers

Reagan Nelson
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- 15 kills
- 2 service aces
- 17.5 points
- 6 digs

Lucy Arndt
----------------------
- 13 kills
- 14 digs
- 13.5 points
- 4 assists

Alaina Lester
----------------------
- 7 kills on .429 hitting
- 6 total blocks, including 2 solo
- 11 points

Holland Guilliams
----------------------
- 15 digs
- 3 assists

Ellie Burns
----------------------
- 16 assists
- 13 digs
- 2 service aces

The Redhawks will return to Houck Field House Wednesday at 6 p.m. will host former OVC foe Little Rock.