Clarksville, TN – A return to its balanced offensive attack was the cure to end Austin Peay State University volleyball team’s two-match losing streak as it posted a three-set sweep (25-23, 25-16, 25-18) of Tennessee State, Tuesday night, in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Dunn Center.
The Lady Govs had to battle through a see-saw affair in the opening set with 10 lead changes in the frame. Tennessee State would build a 15-12 lead in the set only to watch Austin Peay wipe out that advantage with a 6-0 run to take an 18-12 advantage. The Lady Govs would stretch their lead to three points, 22-19, but a 4-0 Tigers run gave them a 23-22 lead. Austin Peay senior Lauren Henderson single-handedly gave APSU set point with back-to-back kills and freshman Sammie Ebright finished off the set with a service ace.
Austin Peay carried the momentum of that win into the second set which they led wire-to-wire. The Lady Govs opened with a 4-1 lead thanks to a pair of kills by junior Jada Stotts. Austin Peay opened the lead to eight points, 18-10, with four straight points on Ebright’s serve and never looked back.
Tennessee State (9-13, 5-6 OVC) was unable to recover after the break. Austin Peay slowly built its lead throughout the wire-to-wire win, first to 7-4 then 14-10 and later 20-14 en route to the match-clinching 25-18 victory.
Stotts led Austin Peay with 12 kills and posted a .267 attack percentage. Henderson continued to be a threat in all phases, recording 11 kills (.450 attack percentage), six blocks, four digs and two service aces. Junior Hillary Plybon added nine kills and a team-best .500 attack percentage.
Arijana Anderson led Tennessee State with 11 kills. The Tigers finished with 30 team kills but also recorded 20 attack errors and finished with a .102 attack percentage.
Austin Peay continues its five-match homestand when it hosts Belmont in a rescheduled 6:00pm, Friday contest at the Dunn Center.
