Southeast Missouri Volleyball (0-2) faced a tough start to the A-State Invitational, dropping both of its opening matches on Friday afternoon. The Redhawks fell to host Arkansas State in straight sets (3-0) and then lost to Saint Louis in a hard-fought four-set battle (3-1).
Arkansas State Match Recap
The Redhawks opened the tournament with a challenging match against Arkansas State, where they were swept in three sets with scores of 25-20, 25-11, and 25-14. Despite a competitive start, SEMO struggled to maintain their momentum, particularly in the second and third sets. Freshmen Marin Johnson and Ramiri Gardner led the Redhawks in kills, each contributing four. As a team, SEMO recorded a total of 19 kills with a .036 hitting percentage due to 16 errors on 83 attacks. Defensively, redshirt junior Avery Torrey was a standout with two blocks, while Lexi Morse and Gardner each added one block. Arkansas State’s offense was powered by Haley Glunz, who dominated with nine kills and a .615 hitting percentage. The Red Wolves out-hit the Redhawks .364 to .036.
Saint Louis Match Recap
In their second match of the day, SEMO faced Saint Louis and managed to claim the first set with a close 26-24 win. However, the Redhawks could not sustain their early success, dropping the next three sets 23-25, 22-25, and 16-25. Despite the loss, SEMO showed some offensive promise. Lucy Arndt, Abby Johnson, and Ramiri Gardner all reached double digits in kills, with Arndt leading the team with 12 kills. The Redhawks hit at a .140 percentage, slightly better than Saint Louis’s .109, but were outmatched in overall kills (53 to 39). Defensively, Marin Johnson and Alaina Lester shined with three solo blocks each, while Gardner and Johnson added four blocks apiece.
Looking Ahead
SEMO Volleyball will wrap up the A-State Invitational on Saturday, August 31, with a match against Mississippi. The first serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Redhawks will look to bounce back and secure their first win of the season.
The Barn 