The Southeast Missouri State University volleyball team was handed its first loss by an Ohio Valley Conference West Division opponent on Saturday at Houck Field House. The team suffered a 3-2 loss to the Eastern Illinois Panthers.

"They really outplayed us today and had a lot more heart coming into this game," Southeast coach Julie Folliard said. "They were gunning for us because we're at the top of the division and they came really prepared, ready to get after it and we didn't respond very well. They had way more kills than we did tonight."

The loss brings Southeast's record to 17-11 overall and 9-3 in the OVC. The Panthers improved to 8-18 and 5-7.

"Overall as a team, everyone did there job, but we came out with an attitude that we thought we were going to do better than we really were," redshirt freshman middle blocker Taylor Masterson said. "I think we overlooked this opponent instead of treating them as every opponent. It hurt us in the first, fourth and fifth games.

Masterson had nine kills and a game-high five blocks for the Redhawks.

The Redhawks lost the first set, 18-25. Southeast battled back with a 25-13 win in the second set and won the third frame, 25-20, during which the Redhawks forced seven errors.

"The second set we played together and we were having fun, like putting balls away, and we were passing well," senior outside hitter Karlee Lursen said. "Towards the end we kind of stopped coming together, and we couldn't put the ball on the court."

The Panthers finished the fourth set on a 6-1 run and defeated the Redhawks 25-20. In the fifth frame, the Redhawks led 10-8, but the Panthers responded with a 7-0 run to win the set 15-10.

Junior outside hitter Colleen Yarber had 18 kills, 15 digs and dished out three assists in the game. She has led Southeast with a total of 219 kills in 13 matches.

Junior setter Julie Shives also recorded a season-high of 20 digs and 41 assists.

"I thought we adjusted well at certain points to figure out where to put the ball because the team was really scrappy," Yarber said. "Our hitters, I don't think we gave up, but they were digging up basically everything that was given to them. Obviously it wasn't enough."

Southeast's next matchup is against OVC opponent Murray State at 7 p.m. Friday at Racer Arena. Earlier this season Southeast swept the Racers in three games.

"They're a little unorthodox as a team as far as their style goes, but we want to focus on our side and on their weaknesses," Folliard said.

Lursen said that the team struggled at Racer Arena last year. The Redhawks lost to the Racers in three sets, 24-26, 17-25, 14-25.

"We have four more games and we have to secure our spot in the OVC," Lursen sai