CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's volleyball team dropped its fourth consecutive match, a 3-1 (26-30, 30-24, 30-26, 30-27) Ohio Valley Conference decision at Tennessee Tech, Saturday.

Austin Peay falls to 8-22 overall and 3-15 in conference play. Tennessee Tech improved to 15-14 overall and 9-9 in league action.

Unlike the previous meeting between the two schools, Austin Peay came ready to play, using five consecutive points take a 13-8 lead and break open the first game. Tennessee Tech closed within two points, 22-20, before Austin Peay scored three consecutive points ? including consecutive points off blocks ? to rebuild its five-point advantage on its way to the 30-26 victory.

Tennessee Tech scored five of the first six points in game two and nursed that lead until late in the game. However, Austin Peay used a 5-2 run to tie the game, 22-22. That only spurred the host Golden Eagles as they rattled off eight of the next 10 points to post a 30-24 win.

Following the break, the Lady Govs led game three, 12-7, before the Golden Eagles rattled off five consecutive points to tie the game, 12-12. A later 12-4 run gave TTU a 26-20 lead from which it would not be threatened the game's remainder on the way to a 30-26 victory.

Tennessee Tech again scored five of the first six points in game four and would not trail after the opening burst. Austin Peay got within a point several times, but could not force a tie as TTU closed the match with a 30-27 victory.

Senior Dodi Szymska recorded a match-high 23 kills and an impressive .327 attack percentage. Sophomore Kirstin Distler added 15 kills and freshman Jessica Mollman chipped in 12 kills. Austin Peay recorded 71 kills and posted a .223 attack percentage. The Lady Govs posted nine service aces in the contest, Distler, Szymska and freshman Sarah Alisaleh each recording two aces.

Leah Meffert led Tennessee Tech with 22 kills and Amanda Lindgren added 20 kills in the four-game match. The Golden Eagles had 83 kills ? five players reaching double-digit kill territory ? and an impressive .310 attack percentage. TTU won both sides of the defensive battle, posting a 9-3 advantage in blocks and a narrow 105-102 margin in digs.

Austin Peay steps out of conference action briefly with a 7 p.m., Tuesday, non-conference tilt at Lipscomb.

- AP -