APSU Sports Information
Troy, AL – Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team came up on the short end of a blocking matchup, dropping a four-set (15-25, 18-25, 25-18, 21-25) decision to Valparaiso in its final match of the Trojan Invitational, Saturday, at Trojan Arena.
Three of those blocks came in a third set that also saw the Govs offense post an impressive 21 kills and a .442 attack percentage to claim the set.
Valparaiso (4-2) consistently stifled the Governors offense with its blocking effort and finished with 14 stops, the most by an APSU opponent this season. Nine of those blocks came in the opening two sets as the Crusaders raced out to a two-set advantage and didn’t look back.
The Governors out-hit Valparaiso by a 56-52 margin in kills. However, the Crusaders were the more efficient squad, ending the game with a .281 attack percentage while the VU block held the Govs to a .195 attack percentage.
Ashley Slay led Austin Peay with 12 kills and added a season-best six blocks. Junior Christina White added an 11-kill, 10-dig double-double performance as did sophomore Kristen Stucker, who had 39 assists and a team-best 16 digs.
Emily Campbell led Valparaiso with 18 kills and seven blocks. Katherine Carlson added a 13-kill, 10-dig double-double effort.
Inside the Box Score
Slay Ends Tourney on Big Note
Junior Ashley Slay again led Austin Peay both offensive and defensively. The middle blocks had a team-best 12 kills and six blocks in the contest against Valparaiso. Slay finished the tournament with 34 kills (3.09 per set) and 15 blocks (1.36 per set).
Big Blocking Weekend for Govs
The Govs nine blocks against Valparaiso were a season best and capped a big weekend at the net. Austin Peay completed its stay in Troy with 21 blocks in three matches (1.91 per set). Not bad for a squad that had just 16 blocks in its previous four matches (1.14 per set).
In addition to Slay’s performance, seven other Govs players recorded two or more blocks on the weekend.
Stucker Leads the Way
Sophomore setter Kristen Stucker notched her season’s first double-double with a 39-assist, 16-dig effort.
While the 16 digs were a career high, so were her five kills.
Stucker’s five kills came on six errorless attacks for a .833 attack percentage.
Austin Peay returns to action when it opens up play at the Dunn Hospitality Invitational with a 7:00pm, Friday contest against host Evansville.
Box Score
Austin Peay vs. Valparaiso
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Records | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso | (3) | 25 | 25 | 18 | 25 | 4-2 |
| Austin Peay | (1) | 15 | 18 | 25 | 21 | 3-4 |
