Clarksville, TN – The Austin Peay State University (APSU) volleyball team opens its 2019 season with a weekend trip for three matches at the Wolfpack Invitational, Friday-Saturday, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The trip kicks off a five-week long, season-opening road trip for the Governors.
Austin Peay State University opens the season with a noon (CT), Friday contest against host North Carolina State that can be seen on ACCNX, the ACC Network’s digital offering.
The APSU Govs then face Kansas State in a 10:00am, Saturday matchup before closing the trip with a 1:00pm, Saturday affair against Maryland.
It will be the first time the Governors have faced any of the three opponents, which are the first three of six Power Five opponents on the schedule.
From The Serve
Austin Peay State University has downed a Power Five opponent in each of the last two seasons (Ole Miss in 2018, Missouri in 2017).
APSU will play its first 18 contests on the road, the longest road trip in program history. The Govs will cover a total of 4,656 miles before opening the home portion of their schedule, October 4th, against Southeast Missouri.
The Govs were picked to finish second in the OVC Preseason Predicted Order of Finish with a pair of Governors named to the 14-woman Preseason All-OVC team.
While Austin Peay State University is the back-to-back defending Ohio Valley Conference champion, it will have a largely new look in 2019 it lost its top outside hitter, primary setter and top middle blocker to graduation.
Expected to fill the spot left at outside hitter is junior outside hitter Brooke Moore, a 2019 Preseason All-OVC pick and the 2017 OVC Tournament MVP. She has posted 659 kills in her first two seasons at Austin Peay State University.
In the back row, senior libero Ginny Gerig Busse also was a 2019 Preseason All-OVC pick who finished sixth among league defenders with 4.35 digs per set last season. She enters 2019 with 1,436 career digs (4.00 per set).
At the all-important setter spot, Austin Peay State University has three student-athletes seeking an opportunity to begin the season. Senior MiMi Arrington and junior Caroline Waite return after spending 2019 as Stucker’s understudies. The Govs also added freshman Kelsey Mead to solidify the position’s future.
The situation is much the same at middle blocker with three Govs entering the year vying for time. Sophomore Karli Graham returns while sophomore Aysha Hood joins the team after a year at VCU. That pair is joined by freshman Kendall Poach, who has shown promise in the preseason.
The Wolfpack Field
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| North Carolina State 15-13 (9-9 ACC) Raleigh, NC Roster Schedule Stats |
Kansas State 15-12 (5-11 Big 12) Manhattan, KS Roster Schedule Stats |
Maryland 18-14 (9-11 Big Ten) College Park, MD Roster Schedule Stats |
| First Meeting between the Govs and Wolfpack.
NC State picked to finish 9th in ACC preseason coaches’ poll after finishing tied for seventh last season. Sophomore opposite Melissa Evans earned Preseason All-ACC recognition for a second-straight season following her 2018 All-ACC nod. She was second on the Wolfpack with 3.17 kills per set. |
First meeting between the Govs and Wildcats.
KSU given nod to finish fifth in Big 12 preseason coaches’ poll after finishing eighth in 2018. Sophomore opposite Gloria Mutiri was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team after earning second-team honors in 2018. She was second on KSU’s roster with 2.77 kills per set. |
First meeting between the Govs and Terrapins.
UM picked to finished 10th in the Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll after an eighth-place finish in 2018. Junior outside hitter Erika Pritchard was a Preseason All-Big Ten choice after First-Team All-Big Ten honors last season. She led the Big Ten with 4.32 kills per set in 2018. |
