CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Austin Peay State University's volleyball team will be the school's first team to get league play underway with a pair of Ohio Valley Conference road matches this weekend. The Lady Govs open the league slate with a 6 p.m. (CDT), Friday contest at Eastern Kentucky before meeting Morehead State in a 1 p.m. (CDT), Saturday affair. Both matches will be available on the internet at ovcsports.tv, the league's live video streaming source.

Austin Peay will enter the conference race with a 5-7 overall mark and looks to disprove the league's preseason poll which had it picked to finish last this season. The Lady Govs offense has had a rough season to date, averaging 13.4 kills per game and a .150 attack percentage. However, they have made up for that deficit with serving and defense. APSU's 2.14 service aces per game ranks second among all league teams while its 18.67 digs per game leads the conference.

Individually, senior Dodi Szymska twice has been named to all-tournament teams this season and leads the Lady Govs with 4.21 kills per game, ranking second among all OVC hitters. Freshman Sarah Alisaleh leads the league in service aces per game with 30 in 42 games (0.71 sapg). Senior Kristen Kirch ranks fifth in service aces (0.45 sapg) and third in digs (5.50 dpg)

“This weekend is going to be tough because both our opponents have only us to focus on,” said Lady Govs head coach Jenny Hazelwood. “We're as ready as we can be going into conference play. We had a good preseason schedule ? we won some matches to gain confidence and played some tough teams for the experience.”

Eastern Kentucky, which was picked to finish third in the conference's preseason poll, enters league action with a 1-8 overall mark and amidst a four-match losing streak that includes losses at Kentucky, No. 13 Minnesota and at No. 11 California. The Colonels offense has been held to just 11.49 kills per game this season while posting a .109 attack percentage. Amanda Wilson leads the offense with 95 kills (3.28 kpg). Defensively, Brittany Nobilio ? a preseason All-OVC selection ? leads the team with 85 digs (4.25 dpg).

“I don't believe you can take Eastern Kentucky's record at face value,” said Hazelwood. “Teams are trying so many different things in the first part of the season and they don't get things pieced together until conference play starts. (EKU head coach) Lori Duncan is a good coach and will have her team ready to play.”

Morehead State, picked second in the preseason poll, has a 6-5 record entering league play, including a 3-1 victory against Miami (Ohio), Wednesday. The Eagles offense leads the league in kills (15.70 kpg) and attack percentage (.219) and service aces (2.62 sapg). Individually, Erin Peak (3.33 kpg) and Ashley Doscher (3.26 kpg) both rank among the OVC's top hitters.

“Morehead State is going to be really tough,” said Hazelwood. “They have played particularly well in the early portion of their schedule and played some good teams close. I believe they're playing particularly well right now.”

- AP -