CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Up two games to none, Austin Peay State University's volleyball team could not finish off visiting Southeast Missouri, falling 3-2 (30-24, 30-25, 27-30, 28-30, 9-15) in Ohio Valley Conference action, Thursday night at the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay (7-12, 2-5 OVC) was impressive in the match's first two games. The Lady Govs never trailed in the opening game, recorded 24 kills with a .309 attack percentage. Austin Peay needed only 19 kills in the game two victory, but was more efficient with a .486 attack percentage.

After the break, Southeast Missouri's (9-10, 5-4 OVC) offense found its stride while Austin Peay's offense couldn't maintain its consistency. The third game was a battle early on as the two teams fought to 13 ties and five lead changes. Southeast Missouri took control with a 9-2 scoring run that turned a 19-17 APSU lead into a 21-26 SEMO advantage. Austin Peay threatened with six of the next nine points, but could not catch Southeast Missouri.

Game four was a story of scoring runs, the Redhawks opening the game with three straight points. The Lady Govs responded by scoring 10 of the next 14 points to take a 10-7 lead. That was immediately followed by an 8-2 Southeast Missouri scoring run which helped them take a 15-12 advantage. Austin Peay fought its way back into the lead and held a two-point, 26-24, advantage only to see Southeast Missouri close the game with a 6-2 run for the 30-28 victory.

The decisive fifth game was never in doubt after Southeast Missouri opened with the first five points. The Redhawks lead would reach seven points, 12-5, as the Lady Govs offense went cold to the tune of only four kills against six attack errors.

“Tonight our hitting errors cost us,” said Lady Govs head coach Jenny Hazelwood. “When you have six hitting errors in a 15-point game you are going to lose. We've talked about our freshmen making freshmen mistakes this season but tonight everyone seemed to make mistakes.

“We are not taking care of our responsibilities and that's mental thing. We are playing soft and are afraid to make mistakes. You can't play that way when you take the court, you have to be aggressive and keep to the game plan. Any time we go into a game we have to play hard and stay after it and that's something we haven't done in the last two matches.”

Senior Dodi Szymska led all hitters with 20 kills, but only recorded a .179 attack percentage after committing 10 attack errors. Freshman Jessica Mollman added a season-high 19 kills ? 13 the first two games ? and a.382 attack percentage. Sophomore Kirstin Distler added 16 kills and freshman Maegan Squibb chipped in 14 kills.

Austin Peay's offense churned out season highs in both kills (83) and blocks (nine), but could not turn those performances into a victory. The Lady Govs were hindered by 30 attack errors and eight service errors along with five reception errors.

Claire Keaton led Southeast Missouri with 17 kills and Karleigh DeLong added 16 kills. The Redhawks needed just 75 kills in the victory as five players reached double-digit kills territory. The Redhawks won the blocking battle 11-9, DeLong and Emily Hughes each posting a match-high five blocks.

Austin Peay continues its five-match homestand when it hosts Eastern Illinois in a 7 p.m., Thursday contest.

- AP -