APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Moving time approaches for Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team as it begins a final three-game road trip. The three-match stretch, which begins Friday at Tennessee Tech, includes a pair of pivotal Ohio Valley Conference matches as the Lady Govs regular-season slowly nears its end.
Austin Peay (6-19, 1-9 OVC) enters the weekend three games out of a spot in the OVC Volleyball Championship. However, the Lady Govs have just six OVC matches remaining in which to make up that ground. Austin Peay will have a prime opportunity to do just that over the next four matches.
This weekend’s opponents – Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State – sit immediately in front of the Lady Govs at 3-7 and 2-8 in OVC play, respectively. Next weekend, APSU hosts Southeast Missouri and UT Martin, which are 4-6 and 3-7 in the league entering this weekend.
“We have to take advantage of the opportunity that’s in front of us,” said Lady Govs head coach Taylor Mott. “We will play some teams over the next two weeks that we need to beat if we are to climb in the standings. Whether we can accomplish that goal relies entirely on our own performance down the stretch.”
Senior libero April Adams led Austin Peay on the first leg of its season-opening road trip, picking up adidas® OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors, Monday. She led APSU with 6.25 digs per set in two matches at SIU Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois last weekend and was not charged with a reception error.
Freshman Logan Carger also took advantage of two rare starts to lead the Lady Govs offense. She averaged 2.50 kills per set in last weekend’s two matches, including a career-best 12-kill effort at SIUE that saw her post a .632 attack percentage.
“April was at her best last weekend,” said Mott. “She played some of the finest volleyball we’ve seen from her this year. We also were pleased Logan responded so well to the opportunity she earned. We’ve seen that ability from her in practice and it was a positive to see it in competition.”
About Tennessee Tech (5-18, 3-7 OVC)
Tennessee Tech returns home after dropping OVC matchups at Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State last weekend. The Golden Eagles bring a three-match losing streak into the Friday contest with Austin Peay, but have not been swept in that stretch. Senior Cody Dodd is TTU’s top offensive threat, ranking third among OVC hitters with 4.26 kills per set in league play. She also is fifth in service aces (0.41 per set) and is second in the league in scoring (4.95 points per game).
About Jacksonville State (11-16, 2-8 OVC)
Jacksonville State has been battling the injury bug during a six-match losing streak that has dropped it to 2-8 in league play. The Gamecocks latest injury claimed setter Jennifer Hart while leading hitter Emily Rutherford has seen limited time during the losing streak while battling her own injury. Allyson Zuhlke has paced the JSU offense during the losing streak, averaging 2.73 kills per set.
About Alabama A&M (10-19)
Alabama A&M is one of the the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s top offensive teams with a league-best .202 attack percentage while ranking third in kills (10.63 per set). Junior Ashundria McNeal is the Bulldogs top offensive threat, averaging 5.15 points per game thanks to a league-leading 4.51 kills per set (437 kills in 97 sets) while posting a .215 attack percentage.
Catch It Live
Only Friday’s contest at Tennessee Tech will be available on the OVC Digital Network, available free on any digital device. In addition, live statistics for each OVC matchup will be available through each school’s respective athletics website.
