EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Behind a trio of double-digit kill performances, Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team swept Evansville in three sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-14), Friday night, on the opening day of the Dunn Hospitality Tournament at the Carson Center.
Austin Peay (4-4) saw redshirt sophomore Chrstina White – its leading hitter – leave in the match’s opening moments. Her departure seemed to stun the Govs, who fell into a 4-1 hole early and forced an early timeout. After the stoppage, APSU recovered slowly and ultimately tied the set, 12-12.
The two teams traded the next nine points until the Governors pieced together six consecutive points. Sophomore Kristen Stucker punctuated the run with a service ace to give Austin Peay a 23-18 lead en route to the 25-20 victory.
Austin Peay got out to a better start in the second set, but Evansville (1-6) used a 6-1 run to build a 9-6 lead. But the Govs responded with an 11-3 run of their own, aided by a trio of Kaitlyn Teeter kills, to build a 17-12 lead. The Purple Aces would get no closer than three points the rest of the way before the Govs closed the 25-20 set win.
The Governors saved their best effort for the final set, posting 16 kills at an impressive .429 attack percentage to win the match. Austin Peay closed the match with a 9-4 run to secure its first road win of 2016.
Kaylee Taff and Teeter each had 11 kills to pace the Govs offense. Taff was charged with just one attack error on 20 attempts and finished the match with a .500 attack percentage. Ashley Slay chipped in 10 kills while posting a .400 attack percentage.
Austin Peay finished with 48 kills, a season-best 16 kills per set, and a .321 attack percentage. The Govs easily outpaced a Purple Aces offense that was held to 31 kills and a .150 attack percentage.
Mildrelis Rodriguez led Evansville with eight kills. Cathy Schreiber was credited with seven blocks to pace a Purple Aces defense that posted nine blocks in the contest.
Austin Peay returns to action with a 10 a.m., Saturday contest against Kent State.