It was sweet. It was revenge. It was the finishing touches on a job that started a year ago.

It is the Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship and it belongs to the University of Tennessee at Martin.

The Skyhawks defeated Southeast Missouri State 3-0 (30-24, 30-21 and 30-28) Saturday afternoon to win the tournament championship, clinch a berth in the NCAA tournament, earn a little revenge, and finish a job they started a year ago when Eastern Illinois upset them in the championship tournament.

Tennessee-Martin (24-5) will have to wait until next Sunday, Dec. 1, to find out who and where they play in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The tournament selection show is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN News.

“We (the OVC representative) usually get a lower seed so we know we will be playing someone really good,” said Chris Rushing, Tennessee-Martin head volleyball coach. “ I’ll imagine we’ll get a 13 or 14 seed, it just depends on if there are any other upsets around the rest of the country. We’ve accomplished what we set out to do. Now we’re just going to enjoy ourselves, relax and make a good showing at the NCAA Tournament. “

The Skyhawks claimed game one 30-24 and handed Southeast Missouri State its first loss of the tournament. Sophomore Leigh Reiniche had six kills, a service ace and seven digs in the game. Senior Lindsey Vicknair and Ahlers turned in .667 hitting percentages. Senior Lindsey Stock, who recorded 10 blocks in the semifinals win over Murray State, had five kills and a .500 hitting percentage.

The Skyhawks built a seven-point lead only to see SEMO battle back to within two points at 19-17. Stock racked up three of her five kills late in the game, while Reiniche continue to work her magic en route to the Skyhawks’ win.

The Skyhawks hitting percentage dropped from .300 to .280 in the second game, but it didn’t stop the attack as the Skyhawks won the second game 30-21. Reiniche picked up four more kills in the game, including the game-winner from the back row. Ahlers came alive with five kills in the game and 10 total attacks. She also had three assisted blocks and a solo block in the game.

The second game was tied nine times before the Skyhawks took the lead for good at 19-18 on an Ahlers kill. SEMO hit .058 in the second game, but Emily Wahlman picked up three block assists.

Tennessee-Martin won game three 30-28 despite trailing 10-4. The Skyhawks tied the game at 18-18 when junior Heather Kea put the exclamation point on an incredible rally that saw junior Jamie Fitzwater make two rolling digs. SEMO forged ahead again, but Kea tied the game at 28-all when she blocked the SEMO setter’s shot. Stock finished the game and the match off with a kill.

“It was great to actually win the tournament,” said senior Rachel Ahlers, from Kirkwood, Mo. “We had two years where we ended up second and it was nice to play here. It’s been a mission this whole year to win both the regular season and the tournament because last year after losing at home in the final two points was tough. It was a great way to make that exclamation, winning in three games and coming out strong here.”

Tennessee-Martin, the No. 1 seed, advanced to the tournament championship with a first round bye and a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Murray State Friday night. The Skyhawks finished the OVC slate with a 15-1 record to win their second consecutive regular season championship. That one OVC loss was to Southeast Missouri.

SEMO, making its sixth OVC finals appearance in the last nine years, won its first round match against Austin Peay Thursday and then beat No. 2 Morehead State Friday. SEMO, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, won the tournament three consecutive times (1998, 1999 and 2000).