APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team could not overcome an error-prone outing in a three-set Ohio Valley Conference loss (19-25, 14-25, 19-25) to regular-season champion Murray State, Wednesday night at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (9-22, 3-12 OVC) could stay step-for-step with Murray State in the early stages of each set. However, a Racers run in each frame determined the outcome.After five ties and three lead changes in the opening 10 points of the first set, the Racers and Lady Govs were tied 5-5.
But Murray State won the next five points, including kills by Scottie Ingram and Kristen Besselsen to build a 10-5 advantage. The Lady Govs would get within two as part of a 3-0 run, but got no closer in a 25-19 loss.
Murray State (24-2, 14-1 OVC) opened broke open the second set with a 11-3 run that built a 16-4 advantage and didn’t look back. Austin Peay did string together four straight points and a 6-1 run to get back within seven points, 17-10, but could not close the gap.
The Racers threatened to run away with the third set, opening with a 4-1 run as Besselsen recorded three straight kills. But a 9-4 APSU run was sparked by three blocks and two Aubrey Marsellis kills to tie the set 12-12. Murray State stopped the threat with a 6-2 burst and went on to claim the match with a 25-19 victory.
Marsellis finished with four kills, 18 assists, nine digs and two blocks to pace Austin Peay. Â Samantha Strother added a team-best seven kills. The Lady Govs were held to 29 kills and a .050 attack percentage.
Alyssa Lelm led Murray State with a 13-kill, .600 attack percentage performance. Kristen Besselsen added 11 kills and five blocks. The Racers finished with 44 kills and a .213 attack percentage.
Austin Peay will conclude the 2015 season with a 2:00pm, Saturday contest against Eastern Kentucky.
Video
Highlights from APSU’s Veterans Day contest against Murray State.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21uZ54oACdA[/youtube]