CAPE GIRARDEU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri defeated Little Rock 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 26-24) on Wednesday. The Redhawks finished with 41 kills, a .250 hitting percentage and seven service aces.

SEMO (5-5) won the opening set 25-18, getting 12 kills and three service aces in the set. The Trojans (6-3) recorded 13 kills, but Southeast Missouri had the higher ace total and finished the set with a seven-point margin.

In the second set, Southeast Missouri took a 25-20 win, leaning on four blocks and three service aces to create points around its attack. The home side also kept its offense clean with just one attack error while finishing with 12 kills.

The third set went to Southeast Missouri 26-24, pairing 17 kills with only two attack errors. The Trojans stayed within two points at the finish, but Southeast Missouri added an ace and a block to finish the set.
 

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AUSTIN PEAY 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0
CLEARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Gabriella Blevins recorded two solo blocks and two block assists to lead Tennessee State's defensive effort at the net in a three-set loss to Austin Peay on Wednesday evening at the Winfield Dunn Center.

The Tigers fell 25-23, 25-13, 25-17, moving to 0-10 on the season.

Blevins accounted for a team-high five points with two kills and her four block contributions. She committed only one attacking error on six attempts to finish with a .167 hitting percentage.

Gabrielle Washington provided an efficient offensive performance, finishing with five kills and one error on 10 attacks for a team-best .400 hitting percentage. Wiktoria Jakubik led TSU with six kills and added six digs, while Sydney Robinson recorded five kills on 13 swings.

Freshman setter Triniti Jackson totaled 15 assists, five digs and three kills in her first match since earning Ohio Valley Conference Co-Rookie of the Week honors.

Tennessee State turned in its strongest performance of the night during a back-and-forth opening frame that featured 12 ties and four lead changes.

The Tigers recorded nine kills and remained within striking distance throughout the set. Blevins helped TSU apply pressure at the net as neither team created separation before Austin Peay secured the final two points of the 25-23 decision.

Austin Peay carried the momentum into the second set, hitting .348 with 11 kills and three attacking errors en route to a 25-13 win.

TSU improved offensively in the third, finishing with nine kills and a .108 hitting percentage. The Governors totaled 14 kills and hit .294 to close the match with a 25-17 victory.

Blevins was involved in four of Tennessee State's six block contributions, recording two solo blocks and combining on two others. Carsyn Stansberry and Jakubik each added a block assist.

Jordan Imperial led the Tigers' back row with eight digs and added two service aces. Sydni Poston also recorded two aces while finishing with three digs.

Julia Culpepper contributed five digs and three assists, while Savanna Moore converted her only attack attempt for a kill.

Tennessee State finished with 24 kills, 22 assists, four service aces, six block contributions and 30 digs.

Austin Peay (6-4) hit .270 with 39 kills. Taly Cloyd led the Governors with seven kills, while Reagan Anderson recorded 14 digs and four service aces.
 

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ILLINOIS 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois' unbeaten home record at Gardella Family Court in McAfee Gym is snapped after falling to Illinois in four sets. The Panthers previously held a perfect 13-0 home record since moving to Gardella Family Court in McAfee Gym. EIU falls to 1-8 (0-0 OVC), while Illinois improves to 6-3 (0-0 Big Ten).  

The Panthers set a new home attendance record at McAfee Gym tonight, with 1,341 fans in attendance for the match against Illinois. The previous record of 864 was set during last year's OVC Championship match against Morehead State.  

EIU started strong but four straight Illini points to extend their lead to 16-10 in the middle stages of set one. The Panthers fell deep into a hole and dropped set one 25-17.  

Set two was a Panthers thrilling victory, ending in a 26-24 win. Both teams went point-for-point until EIU secured the next four of the next five points, heading into the media timeout with a 15-12 lead.  After the break, the Panthers continued to control the set, holding a 21-16 lead forcing an Illini timeout. Illinois responded with a threatening comeback, tying the match at 22. However, Eastern Illinois did not panic, scoring four of the last five points to earn a 26-24 victory. The Panthers offense was rolling, out-killing the Illini 26-24 with a .265 hitting percentage compared to Illinois' .257.  

Set three and four went the Illini's way, closing out the match in four sets. The Fighting Illini paced away from the Panthers with a .362 hitting percentage. Paityn Chapman led the way offensively with 18 kills on a .350 hitting percentage. Alyssa Aguayo and Taylor de Boer followed with double-digit kills. Kenna Phelan directed the offense with 43 assists.   

For EIU, they earned a win in the block category with eight compared to Illinois' seven. Katie Kopshever, Emma Hanson, and Anaya Rawlinson each finished with two blocks on the night.