CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team had few answers for a surging Southeast Missouri offense in a four-set Ohio Valley Conference loss (21-25, 13-25, 25-20, 19-25), Saturday afternoon at Houck Field House.
Austin Peay (5-12, 0-2 OVC) could only put the brakes on the Southeast Missouri offense in the third set. The Lady Govs held the Redhawks to nine kills and a .167 attack percentage. Meanwhile, Austin Peay posted a 14-kill effort with a match-best .229 attack percentage.
However, Southeast Missouri (5-10, 1-1 OVC) was held in check just the one set. The Redhawks recorded 14 or more kills in each of the three sets it won, posting a .286 or better attack percentage each time.
Sophomore Ashley Slay led the Lady Govs with a 14-kill, three-block performance that saw her post a team-leading .333 attack percentage. Senior Samantha Strother added 13 kills and a .270 attack percentage. The duo led an Austin Peay attack that finished with 51 kills but was held to a .174 attack percentage.
Gearring led Southeast Missouri with 12 kills and was one of four hitters to finish with double-digit kills. The Redhawks needed just 53 kills in the win but posted a more efficient .303 attack percentage and had seven service aces and 11 blocks.
Austin Peay continues its road trip with a 7 p.m., Tuesday contest at Murray State – the sixth match of its current seven-match road trip.