MEMPHIS, Tenn. – One near-perfect set wasn’t enough as Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team lost in four sets (14-25, 25-21, 21-25, 16-25) to host Memphis, Friday, in the opening day of the Tiger Invitational at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Austin Peay (4-8) has struggled with its consistency throughout the season’s first three weeks and inconsistency reigned against Memphis. The Lady Govs will look back at a near perfect second set and wondering how they can repeat that performance.
Down 1-0 in the match, the Lady Govs pieced together a 15-kill second set with an impressive .414 attack percentage. Despite the offensive outburst, Austin Peay trailed 18-17 and needed back-to-back kills from senior Aubrey Marsellis and freshman Cecily Gable to take the lead for good, 21-19. Sophomore Ashley Slay would end the set with two kills in the final three points for the 25-21 victory.
However, that was the only dent Austin Peay could put on the scoresheet. Memphis (9-3) won the other three sets in wire-to-wire fashion. The Tigers posted double-digit kills in all four sets.
Slay led Austin Peay with 12 kills, five blocks and a .267 attack percentage. She was the only hitter to reach double-digit kills, Austin Peay finishing with 40 kills while being held to a .119 attack percentage.
McKenzie Hayes led Memphis and all hitters with 18 kills and a .444 attack percentage. Catlin Lilly added 15 kills and a .278 attack percentage.
Austin Peay returns to action with a noon, Saturday contest against Mississippi State.