APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team makes its swing through the Land of Lincoln for a pair of Ohio Valley Conference matches, Friday-Saturday.
First, the OVC-leading Govs will face a fast-rising Eastern Illinois squad in a 7:00pm, Friday contest at Lantz Arena. Austin Peay then meets second-place SIU Edwardsville in a pivotal 2:00pm, Saturday showdown at the Vadalabene Center.
Meet The Teams
Austin Peay 21-3 (9-1 OVC) Clarksville, TN Roster Schedule Stats |
Eastern Illinois 12-10 (6-4 OVC) Nashville, TN Roster Schedule Stats |
SIUE 18-4 (8-2 OVC) Edwardsville, IL Roster Schedule Stats |
From The Serve
Austin Peay continues to be ranked among Division I’s top 70 in RPI, standing firm at No. 67 in the latest RPI released by the NCAA, Monday, leading all OVC teams.
The Govs were moved back up to No. 17 in this week’s edition of the VolleyballMag.com Mid-Major Poll presented by the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
Senior Ashley Slay enters the weekend with 325 career blocks (tied-2nd all-time) after an eight-block week that included six blocks against Belmont. She also had a 16-kill effort against Tennessee State.
Junior Kristen Stucker ended last week with an impressive 49-assist effort against Tennessee State, Friday.
She averaged 10.25 assists per set during the week while leading the Govs to a .224 team attack percentage.
Stucker has been on of the most prolific Division I setters, ranking third it total assists (1,048) and 22nd in assists per set (11.27) entering the regular season’s final three weeks.
Sophomore Ginny Gerig led a Govs defense that held Belmont and Tennessee State to a combined .132 attack percentage last week. She averaged 4.38 digs per set, including 18 digs against Tennessee State.
Austin Peay head coach Taylor Mott notched her 400th career win at Tennessee Tech, October 13th.
She now is a win away from becoming the second head coach to record 100 wins at Austin Peay.
About the Opponents
Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois (12-10, 6-4 OVC) has won three straight OVC matches and have risen into a tie for fifth place. The Panthers took home three of the OVC’s weekly awards: middle blocker Allie Hueston (offensive), setter Taylor Smith (setter) and outside hitter Laurel Bailey (newcomer).
Hueston ranks seventh among OVC players in attack percentage (.311) and fourth in blocks (1.14/set).
SIU Edwardsville
SIU Edwardsville (18-4, 8-2 OVC) has rattled off eight-straight wins since dropping both ends of the APSU-Murray State trip in September. The Cougars are the OVC’s best-hitting team (.294 attack percentage) and own the league’s best defense, limiting teams to a .158 attack percentage.
Taylor Joens leads all OVC hitters with a .383 attack percentage while ranking fifth in kills (3.19/set).