The #2-seeded Southeast Missouri women’s volleyball team (23-10, 12-4 OVC) swept #4 Morehead State (23-9, 12-4 OVC), 26-24, 25-19, 28-26, Saturday evening at the Pete Mathews Coliseum to capture the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship.
The title was the sixth title for Southeast and first since 2006. With the victory, Southeast has earned an automatic qualification to the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. The bracket will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m., CT during the selection show on ESPNU.
SEMO has also matched the 2000 Redhawks that totaled 23 wins (23-9, 16-0 OVC).
“I can’t put into words how excited I am for this team,” head coachJulie Yankussaid after the match. “This is a special group of young women who worked through adversity and responded to every challenge put in front of them. You never know how a team will handle the big moments and this team handled today with fight, grit, and determination. I am so happy for this team, especially our seniors. It’s been an amazing ride and I wouldn’t want to have taken this journey with anyone else.”
“I want to thank Cindy Gannon for her guidance and support and for paving the way for this program. It’s perfect that this is the year she is also being inducted in the [Southeast Athletics] Hall of Fame. I also want to recognize all of the hard work [assistant coach]Loni Kreunhas put in this year. She had to take on the role of both assistant coaches and she gave so much to this program over the last few months. I am so glad she could be a part of this amazing season.”
Laney Malloy,Mikayla KuhlmannandClaire Ochswere each named to the 2019 OVC All-Tournament Team. Ochs was selected as the tournament MVP.
Malloy led the Redhawks offense Saturday with 16 kills and 10 digs for the double-double. Kuhlmann chipped in 12.Annie Wehrheimfinished with seven kills andMaggie Adamshad five.
Ochs dished out 32 assists with eight digs and five kills.
Tara Beilsmithled the SEMO defense with a match-high 18 digs.
Southeast will next compete in the First Round of the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5-6.