SEMO women’s volleyball advances to OVC semifinal
CHARLESTON, Ill. (KBSI) – The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team won in a five-see thriller over Western Illinois Monday night in the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinal round on Monday night at Lantz Arena in Charleston, Illinois.
The Redhawks advanced to the tournament’s semifinal round.
SEMO (21-9, 12-6 OVC) is ranked #2. Western Illinois (9-21, 8-10 OVC) is ranked #7. (9-21, 8-10 OVC).
Senior outside hitter Zoey Beasley finished with a season-best 22 kills on 60 total attacks. She had five errors and a .283 hitting-percentage.
The Redhawks won the match 23-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, and 15-10. WIU and SEMO went to five-sets for the second time this season. SEMO won both matches.
Three Redhawks finished in double-digits kills.
Lucy Arndt finished with a double-double adding 12 digs to her final stat line and hitting .161 over 56 attacks.
The Redhawks dominated the fifth and decisive set. They outhit the Leathernecks .353 to a .000-mark by WIU who had six kills and six errors on 17 total attacks.
SEMO finished with two errors and eight kills.
Setter Izzy Lukens finished with 54 assists and led the Redhawks to a .227 team hitting percentage. The second team All-OVC selection had 150 total attempts and two errors on the evening.
OVC Defensive Player of the Year Tara Beilsmith finished with 28 digs and a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 37 total attempts. This was the 14th time in 2023 that Beilsmith finished with a 1.000 reception percentage.
Western Illinois was led by Keyana Cruse who finished with 24 kills on 58 attempts, for a .310 hitting-percentage.
#2 Southeast Missouri will face the winner of the final quarterfinal match between #6 Tennessee Tech and #3 Lindenwood on Tuesday, Nov. 21 in Charleston, Ill. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at Lantz Arena.
