CLARKSVILLE – Four players finished with more than 10 points to help Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team secure a five-set (25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 11-25, 15-8) Ohio Valley Conference victory against SIUE, Friday night at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (6-14, 1-4 OVC) saw a 2-0 set lead evaporate as SIUE charged back to level the match, 2-2. But after losing the fourth set 25-11, the Lady Govs dominated the final set. A 4-1 Austin Peay burst, with a kill from senior Aubrey Marsellis and a service ace by Samantha Strother, turned the tide. Austin Peay secured the match with sophomore Ashley Slay’s kill and freshman Kaylee Taff’s block.
The Lady Govs were five points away from wrapping up the match in three sets. APSU won the first two sets in runaway fashion, posting an impressive 16 kills in the opening set, to gain a 2-0 lead. Austin Peay could glimpse the sweep as it led 20-19 in the third set, but could not close the door.
SIUE (3-12, 1-4 OVC) battled back with three straight kills to take a 22-20 lead and wrapped up the set with a service ace and a kill as part of a 3-1 run. The Cougars carried that momentum into the fourth set, swamping the
Lady Govs in a 25-11 victory to tie the match and set up the fifth set.
Taff led Austin Peay with seven blocks, including the match-winner, while posting 10 kills at a team-best .474 attack percentage. Slay added 15 kills at a .375 attack percentage while Marsellis and Strother added nine kills each.
Kristen Torre led SIUE with a 15-kill, 10-block double-double performance. Ashley Witt added an 18-kill, 10-dig double-double while Katie Shashack chipped in a 10-assist, 13-dig double-double effort.
Austin Peay continues its four-match homestand when it hosts third-place Eastern Illinois in a 2 p.m., Saturday contest.