CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's volleyball team dropped its third-straight match, a 3-2 (26-30, 30-25, 30-26, 20-30, 15-17), Ohio Valley Conference decision to Eastern Illinois, Friday night.

After losing the match's first game, Austin Peay rallied to win the next two games and take a 2-1 lead. However, a lackluster game-four performance allowed Eastern Illinois to tie the match, 2-2. In the fifth game, the Lady Govs staved off two match points and forced overtime, but could not fend off a third match point.

“I thought our team did a better job being aggressive tonight,” said Lady Govs head coach Jenny Hazelwood. “The thing we still aren't doing is pushing points. We get a lead and we become satisfied and even if it's just a lead of a couple points our girls have to learn to keep staying after it. That's a mental thing and it's something we keep doing. When you have any team on the ropes you have to finish. We keep getting to a point to put the match away and we not closing the door.”

Senior Dodi Szymska led the Lady Govs with 24 kills and a .284 attack percentage. Freshman Jessica Mollman added 16 kills and sophomore Kirstin Distler added 12 kills. Mollman led APSU's front-row defense with three blocks while senior Kristen Kirch posted a team-high 26 digs.

Senior Eliza Zwettler led Eastern Illinois with 22 kills, one of five EIU players to reach double-digit kill territory. The Panthers won most of the statistical battles, including an 88-72 advantage in kills, a 12-5 advantage in blocks and a 102-92 margin in digs. Sophomore Amy Sesol led EIU with seven blocks and sophomore Shaina Boylan posted a match-high 27 digs.

Austin Peay returns to action with a 7 p.m., Tuesday contest, against Jacksonville State.

NOTES: The loss was the Lady Govs third consecutive five-game loss and they are now 1-4 in five-game matches... Kirch became Austin Peay's career digs leader during the match and finished the match with 1,912 career digs, including 415 this season.

-AP-