PEORIA, Ill. – In a four game set in the Midwest, senior Katie Downey found the Spartan's first point of the 2010 season with assist from Emily Sanders as USC Upstate went on to down Southeast Missouri State, 3-1, in the opening game of the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational (19-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20).

Upstate (1-0), who recorded the first point and first "W" of the tournament, was led by Downey who posted a game-high 17 kills and Morgan Thomas who found 15. Defensively the Spartan's were led by Megan Healey who posted a game-high 22 digs and found support from Sanders with 14 digs, Mindy Quimby with 12, and newcomer Amanda Carroll who had 11.

Southeast Missouri State (0-1), who returns eight letterwinners for the 2010 season and went 13-17 in 2009, was led by Claire Keaton who posted 16 kills and 11 digs and Holly Reynolds who found the floor on five kills. Also helping out the Redhawks were Kelly Benacka and Julie Shives with 15 and 10 digs, respectively.

The Spartans stayed close on the Redhawks during the first set, and even led twice, before a kill by Karlee Lursen propelled teammate Keaton's back-to-back kills for SEMO to take control on an 8-2 run. The Redhawks would lead by as much as six points before closing out the set, again up six, 25-19.

Although it was the Redhawks who put away the first point of the second set, it was Upstate who powered through on a 12-3 run as attack errors plagued Southeast Missouri State. Try as the Redhawks might to battle back, it was no match for the Thomas and Downey duo who combined for six kills as Upstate took the second, 25-17.

Starting the third set off in Spartan fashion, Downey put away the first point with help from Sanders before sophomore Quimby found the floor on back-to-back kills. Upstate went on to lead for the majority of the set, falling behind for just a short period of time off an attack error from newcomer Cori Harris, 11-9, before closing out the Redhawks,  25-21.

With the "W" close at hand, Upstate opened up the fourth set with yet another Downey/Sanders combination before newcomer Carroll found the floor to spur a 12-5 run that featured Thomas, Downey and Quimby. Sealing the deal for the Spartans was Quimby who connected with the ball from Sanders, finishing off SEMO, 25-20.

The Spartans will look to continue on the winning path at the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational.  During the remainder of their time up north Upstate will take on Bradley and Western Illinois, tomorrow, Saturday at 12:00 noon and 4:30 p.m., respectively.