APSU Sports Information
Clarksville, TN – Senior Cecily Gable posted a 14-kill, 14-dig double-double effort and the Austin Peay State University (APSU) volleyball team overcame an opening-set loss to post a four-set victory (22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-15) against Jacksonville State, in the Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Championships semifinal round, Friday night at the Winfield Dunn Center.
For a second straight year, Austin Peay (27-4) advances to the noon, Saturday, championship match where it will again face Murray State.
The Racers advanced to the title match with a four-set victory against Morehead State earlier Friday.
Jacksonville State (21-10) broke out of the gate quickly, claiming the opening set thanks to a pair of key runs.
After the Govs took a 4-2 lead in the first, the Gamecocks used a 6-2 run to take a 10-6 lead.
Austin Peay again charged back and regained the lead at 15-14 thanks to a 5-0 run, but a well-placed JSU timeout halted the momentum and the Gamecocks fought back with a 5-1 run to take a 20-16 lead it would not relinquish.
Austin Peay faced similar jeopardy in the second set as Jacksonville State pieced together a 9-3 run to turn a 14-11 Govs advantage into a 19-17 Gamecocks lead.
The teams traded the next six points until junior Haley Turner served up the final four points, including a pair of service aces to tie the match.
The third set was more of the same as JSU again used a 6-2 run to build a 17-15 lead late only to watch the Govs rally down the stretch. Austin Peay pieced together a 9-4 run to get to set point, 24-21, and Gable supplied the set winner two points later for the 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was sapped of any drama early on as the Govs used a 4-0 run that ultimately proved decisive, giving APSU a 5-2 lead.
Jacksonville State would close to within a point at 12-11, but back-to-back Gable kills ended the threat as the Govs rolled to the win.
Gable’s 14-kill outing led the Govs but it was key secondary scoring that proved crucial.
Senior Logan Carger provided a 13-kill outing and junior Jenna Panning chipped in 12 kills and four blocks to aid the winning effort.
Sadie Anderson led Jacksonville State with a 17-kill outing and Lena Kindermann added 11 kills.
APSU Governors, Notably
Back To The Title Match
Austin Peay will make its sixth appearance in the OVC title match. The Governors are three-time OVC tournament champions, winning the even in 1991, 2010 and 2017. Austin Peay finished runner up in 1992 and 1999. It is the third time APSU will face Murray State in the title contest, the two teams splitting the two previous meetings – APSU winning last season and MSU winning the 1992 meeting.
Previously Against The Racers
The Govs and Racers split their regular-season series with the home team winning each match. Austin Peay won a four-set decision in Clarksville, September 25th, and Murray State winning the October 30th meeting in Murray, Kentucky in four sets.
