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HomeSportsLady Govs seek to stem road woes at Tennessee State

Lady Govs seek to stem road woes at Tennessee State

APSU Women’s Volleyball

Austin Peay State University GovernorsClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team will look to end a two-match road losing streak when it meets Tennessee State in a 7:00pm, Friday, Ohio Valley Conference contest at Kean Hall in Nashville Tennessee.

Austin Peay (14-4, 5-2 OVC) has lost its last two road outings in five sets, falling at Jacksonville State, September 25th, and at Eastern Kentucky, Tuesday. The Lady Govs led both matches 2-1 before surrendering the fourth and fifth sets. Austin Peay was its own worst enemy in both contests, committing uncharacteristic errors on offense and struggling to keep serves in.

Lady Govs Volleyball. (Courtesy: Robert Smith/The Leaf-Chronicle )
Lady Govs Volleyball. (Courtesy: Robert Smith/The Leaf-Chronicle )

“If we look at strategic or technical things we can improve, then I will point to our passing,” said Lady Govs head coach Haley Janicek. “I believe Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky got us out of our offensive system. Being in a different gym where we were a little more uncomfortable we struggled with our passing. If we can win the serve/serve receive battle, I believe we will be fine. It’s a matter of our team coming together and playing the way we know how.”

Through seven OVC matches, sophomore Nikki Doyle leads the Lady Govs with 106 kills, averaging 4.08 kills per set. Senior Jessica Mollman has made her presence felt in league play as well, with 67 kills (2.58 per set) and team-bests in attack percentage (.305) and blocks (0.81 per set).

Tennessee State (5-10, 3-4 OVC) suffered a three-set sweep at league-leading Morehead State, Tuesday, snapping its two-match win streak. The Lady Tigers are 3-2 with two consecutive victories at Kean Hall.

Tennessee State features a well-balanced attack with four players recording more than 100 kills this season. Santia Sanders leads the Lady Tigers with 134 kills (2.48 per set). Vicmari Prospero has 114 kills (2.11 per set) and  leads the team in attack percentage (.305) and blocks (0.87 per set).

“Tennessee State is a really good, athletic team and they are very dangerous,” Janicek said. “I don’t underestimate them. For us, I believe the challenge is worrying about our side of the net. When we start worrying about the other side of the net is when it gets dangerous. If we can do the things we do well on our side of the net, we’ll get some points.“

Austin Peay leads the all-time series, 41-7, and has won three of the last four meetings, including both 2009 matchups. The Lady Govs won a three-set sweep in Nashville last season.

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