RICHMOND, Ky. ? Senior Dodi Szymska posted a career-high 29 kills to lead Austin Peay State University's volleyball team to a 3-1 (23-30, 30-27, 30-24, 35-33) Ohio Valley Conference victory at Eastern Kentucky, Friday night.
In the closely-fought opening game, Eastern Kentucky (1-9, 0-1 OVC) grabbed the advantage with four consecutive points to start a 7-2 scoring run that turned a one-point, 20-19, EKU lead into a six-point, 27-21 advantage which the host school would not relinquish. Austin Peay forced 13 ties in the game's early stages, including an 18-18 final tie, but committed five key errors after that tie which helped EKU's cause.
Game two was equally close with 17 ties, the last coming at 24-24. Austin Peay (6-7, 1-0 OVC) then took control with three consecutive points, including back-to-back points by sophomore Kirstin Distler.
The Lady Govs gained control of the third game with an impressive 12-5 scoring push to build a one-point, 15-14, lead into an insurmountable 27-19 advantage. The Colonels committed six errors during the crucial run.
Eastern Kentucky led during the first half of the fourth game, holding a two-point advantage at the game's mid-point, 16-14. Austin Peay turned the tide with a 10-3 scoring drive to take a 24-19 lead. However, the Colonels immediately responded with a 9-4 scoring run of their own to tie the game, 28-28.
EKU then forced its first game-point chance only to watch Szymska turn it away with a kill. Szymska then turned away another game-point opportunity at 30-29. EKU's third game-point chance, 31-30, was stymied by the block of senior Leanne Kreps and freshman Taylor Skinner.
A Distler kill gave the Lady Govs their first match-point chance at 32-31, but it was turned aside by a Bridget Mustard kill. An APSU attack error gave EKU its fourth game-point which was stopped by Skinner's solo block. Distler then posted a service ace to give APSU its second-match point opportunity which it converted via an EKU attack error.
“Our goal tonight was to serve them short and keep them out of their offense and we accomplished that,” said head coach Jenny Hazelwood. “A lot of our errors came in the first game and then we settled in. It was an intense match, especially in the first and fourth games, and a good atmosphere to play our first conference match in. Eastern Kentucky committed their errors at critical points in the match and we were able to take advantage.”
Szymska finished with 83 of the Lady Govs 214 attacks, posting a .253 attack percentage. Distler added 18 kills while freshman Maegan Squibb finished with 12 kills and a team-best .429 attack percentage. The Lady Govs needed just 70 kills to win the match, finishing with a .210 attack percentage. Defensively, Skinner finished with a team-best five blocks while senior Kristen Kirch added 23 digs.
“Dodi and Kirstin were incredible tonight,” said Hazelwood. “I just kept telling our setter to get the ball to them and let them take care of it which they did tonight.”
Amanda Wilson led Eastern Kentucky with 20 kills and was one of four EKU hitters to reach double-digit kill territory. The Colonels finished with 80 kills and a .242 attack percentage but committed 28 attack errors. Defensively, Wilson added six blocks while Brittany Nobilio posted 39 digs.
Austin Peay continues its “Death Valley” road swing with a 1 p.m. (CDT), Saturday, contest at Morehead State.
- AP -
