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HomeSportsLady Govs travel to Louisville for pre-NCAA Tournament warmup

Lady Govs travel to Louisville for pre-NCAA Tournament warmup

APSU Women’s Volleyball

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – A week removed from claiming its second-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title, Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team face Big East Tournament champion Louisville in a 1:00pm, (CT) Saturday contest at Louisville Arena.

Lady Govs Volleyball
Lady Govs Volleyball

The contest has become an annual event for the OVC Tournament champion. Saturday’s matchup will be the third edition of the event, which Louisville has not lost.

Austin Peay returns to action a week after clinching its second OVC tournament title with a four-set victory against regular-season champion Morehead State which was hosting the tournament. The Lady Govs defeated sixth-seeded Tennessee Tech in a four-set semifinal contest. Austin Peay finished second in the OVC’s regular season race for the second consecutive year.

Nikki DoyleSophomore outside hitter Nikki Doyle was key to the Lady Govs two victories in the championship, leading the team 20 kills in the semifinal and 17 kills in the championship. She was named the tournament’s “Most Valuable Player.” Also named to the all-tournament team were senior setter Sarah Alisaleh, who recorded 102 assists (12.75 aps), and junior outside hitter Ilyanna Hernandez, who posted 26 kills (3.25 kps).

Louisville won its third consecutive Big East Championship with a three-set victory against nationally-ranked Cincinnati, last Saturday. The Cardinals finished second in the Big East regular-season race and defeated Seton Hall in the quarterfinals before downing Marquette in the semifinals to reach the championship for the sixth-consecutive year.

Freshman outside hitter Emily Juhl was named the Big East Championship’s Most Valuable player after posting 31 kills during the championship, including 13 kills in the championship match. Junior Gwen Rucker and sophomore Lola Arslanbekova also were named to the all-tournament team.

Saturday’s meeting will be the fourth all-time between Austin Peay and Louisville on the volleyball court. The Cardinals have won each of the three previous meetings, the last occurring in 1994 at the Alabama Tournament.

Key Notables From OVC Tournament

Jessica MollmannAustin Peay won the championship after losing in the semifinals the previous two tournaments.

The Lady Govs won a first-round match in the 2008 tournament before losing to host Tennessee Tech. Austin Peay lost in the semifinals last season – its first match of the tournament – in a five-set marathon to Morehead State.

Senior middle blocker Jessica Mollmann recorded 16 kills in the semifinal but was held to six kills in the championship match and finished with a .189 attack percentage.

Taylor SkinnerAustin Peay’s service game continued to cause opponents trouble. The Lady Govs recorded 14 service aces (1.75 saps) during the championship. Junior outside hitter Kayla Grantham and libero Paige Economos each recorded four aces during the tournament.

The Lady Govs also got the job done at the net with seven different players recording a block and the team finishing with 17 blocks (2.12 bps) in the championship. Senior middle blocker Taylor Skinner finished with eight blocks (1.00 bps).

Next Up: NCAA Tournament Selection Show

Austin Peay will learn its opponent and destination during the NCAA’s Volleyball Championship Selection Show which begins at 2:00pm (CT), Sunday, on ESPNews. The athletics department will be hosting a reception at the 2nd Floor Governors Club Room in the Dunn Center, beginning at 1:30pm.

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