SEMO ROUNDUP: Southeast Missouri State volleyball starts strong but falls to Murray State

Southeast Missouri State volleyball won the opening set but was unable to build on that strong start in a loss to Murray State on Saturday.

After losing in straight sets to Austin Peay on Friday, the Redhawks ensured they wouldn't get swept for a second consecutive day with a first-set win. But the Racers rebounded with a four-set victory (27-29, 25-17, 25-22, 25-20) in the Ohio Valley Conference match at Houck Field House.

It was the first time since Nov. 8, 2013, that SEMO won a set against Murray State (11-5 overall, 3-1 OVC). Southeast (6-12, 1-3) had a match-high .333 hitting percentage in that first game.

Senior Nzingha Clarke led the hosts with 14 kills and a career-high 11 blocks. It was her first double-double of the season, and she added 10 assists for good measure. Krissa Gearring chipped in with 10 kills and a season-high 21 digs.

Clarke and Gearring led the way in the first game, as both had five kills. The opening set was knotted at 27-all when Haley Bilbruck notched a kill, one of five she had in the match. Southeast won the next point to take a 1-0 set lead in the match. Bilbruck also contributed a season-high 10 blocks.

Early in the second, Murray State won 10 straight points to take the set with ease. The Racers built off that momentum by taking the third and fourth sets to secure the win.

Southeast setter Allie Henkelman had a team-high 20 assists, and Keegan Fornoff added 17. Libero Ally Dion had 14 digs, and Krista Berns had a career-high seven blocks. Madara Bajare chipped in five kills and six blocks.

Southeast will have a chance to end its two-match losing streak Friday against Eastern Illinois. It's the first of four consecutive road matches. Saturday, SEMO faces Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

Cross Country

The Southeast men's and women's teams both finished 29th in the Greater Louisville Classic in Kentucky on Saturday.

Junior Curtis Reed was the top finisher for the men's team on the eight-kilometer course and had a personal-best time, running the race in 25 minutes, 55 seconds, to grab 142nd place. The Redhawks' second-best runner, sophomore Griffin Bailey, also set a personal record. He finished in 25:57 for 146th place.

Kaitlyn Shea led the Southeast women in the five-kilometer race, coming in 109th with a time of 18:03.

Northern Arizona won the men's competition, and Boise State was first on the women's side.

SEMO's next meet is the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 13 in Peoria, Illinois.