CHARLESTON, S.C. – It took a set for Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team to shake off an early morning start, but it did and romped to a three-set win (25-23, 25-16, 25-14) against host The Citadel, Friday, in the opening match of the Bulldog Invitational at McAlister Field House.
Austin Peay (6-6) showed the effects of the early start with a sloppy opening frame. The Govs committed 11 attack errors against 12 kills. However, the defense came to the rescue at the end with APSU only two blocks coming in the final stages. Sophomores Kaylee Taff and Kristen Stucker combined on a block for a 22-20 lead. On match point, junior Kaitlyn Teeter supplied another block to secure the win.
The Governors were fully awake at that point and romped to victories in the second and third sets. Austin Peay posted 14 kills and only four errors (.303 attack percentage) in the second set while holding the Bulldogs to a negative-.081 attack rate (five kills, seven errors). The Governors posted another 13 kills (four errors) in the third while holding The Citadel to eight kills to secure the match.
Taff led the Govs offense with 12 kills and a stout .611 attack percentage (one error, 18 attempts) while adding a pair of blocks. Teeter chipped in 11 kills and three blocks. Junior Ashley Slay got off to a cool start offensively with seven kills and seven attack errors, but supplied five blocks and a service ace.
Austin Peay finished the match with 39 kills and a .194 attack percentage. The Govs defense registered 48 digs and nine blocks, helping hold The Citadel (4-8) to a season-low .029 attack percentage.
Carla Burce and Megan Sowell each had six kills to pace The Citadel’s offense, which finished with just 24 kills.
The Governors continue play at the Bulldog Invitational with a 2 p.m. (CT) contest against Charleston Southern.