Nov. 16, 2006

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Senior outside hitter Jessica Koeper (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) produced a match-best 24 kills on a career-best 72 attacks with 14 digs as sixth-seeded Southeast Missouri State knocked off third-seeded Murray State by a 3-2 (31-29, 21-30, 25-30, 30-20, 15-13) margin in first round action of the 2006 O'Reilly Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Jacksonville State's Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Redhawks improve to 15-17 with the win, while the Racers finish with a 19-8 record on the year.

Senior setter Jamie Baumstark (Hermann, Mo./Hermann) and freshman right side hitter Karleigh DeLong (Corona, Calif./Santiago) also produced double-doubles for the Redhawks. Baumstark had 49 assists and 23 digs and DeLong added 21 digs and 12 kills. Freshman libero Molly Davis (Muncie, Ind./Burris) recorded a team-best 26 digs and two service aces, while junior middle blocker Brenna Schlader (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) finished with seven block assists.

The Redhawks broke an early 4-4 tie with a 17-7 scoring run to claim a 21-11 lead on a block by Baumstark and Schlader. A solo block by Koeper hiked Southeast's lead to 24-14, but Murray later used seven consecutive service points by junior Tara DeMage, including four service aces that sliced its deficit at 26-21. After the Racers tied the score at 29-all after scoring eight of the next 10 points, Southeast captured a 1-0 match advantage thanks to a bad set by Murray and a Baumstark kill. Murray opened the second stanza with a 13-7 leading margin on a block by seniors Julie Lashley and Holly Jansen. The Racers later posted their biggest lead of the game at 24-13 on a Jansen kill and evened the match at 1-1 after gaining six of the game's final 14 points.

In game three, the Racers posted a 17-14 lead on a kill from sophomore Alison Mugler and later claimed a 23-16 advantage on senior Katie Kemzys kill. After kills from DeLong and junior outside hitter Brittany Hastings (Wichita, Kan./Circle) sliced Southeast's deficit to 27-20, Murray took a 2-1 lead after despite the Redhawks scoring five of the next eight points. Back-to-back DeLong kills early in the fourth game handed Southeast a 13-4 lead. DeLong struck again with another kill as the Redhawks increased their lead at 20-13 and Murray could get no closer than six points to send the match into a deciding fifth game.

Murray snapped a 7-7 lead early in the fifth game by scoring three of the next five points en route to a 12-9 lead on a DeMage solo block. The Redhawks came back with a 4-1 run to even the score at 13-all on a hitting error by the Racers. Consecutive Murray hitting errors and a kill from DeLong on match point propelled Southeast to the victory.

"Our turning point was the realization that our season was on the line and these women came out with a never say die attitude for the rest of match," said Redhawks head coach Renata Nowacki. "Different players came out on the floor to make key plays that helped us gain the victory."

Jansen paced Murray with 15 kills on the night, while Groves added a double-double of 14 kills and 16 digs. Sophomore Heather Norris contributed a match-high 40 digs and DeMage recorded 15 digs and four service aces for the Racers. Freshman Cassie Chesney finished with 44 assists and 19 digs.

Southeast now faces second seed Tennessee State in the semifinals tomorrow afternoon with a start time of 3:30 p.m. The match will be shown on OVCSports.TV in a live broadcast from Pete Mathews Coliseum.