CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? Pivotal is the word Austin Peay State University volleyball head coach Jenny Hazelwood uses when she talks about her team's Ohio Valley Conference weekend matchups. The Lady Govs will complete a brief three-match homestand when they host Murray State in a 7 p.m., Friday contest before Tennessee Martin comes calling in a 2 p.m., Saturday affair.

Austin Peay has surprised outsiders by jumping out to a 11-5 overall mark and 3-1 league record. The Lady Govs focus has been limiting points surrendered by their own attack errors and they have largely succeeded as their league-leading .229 attack percentage shows. They also have performed well defensively, ranking 19th nationally in digs per set (16.48), and behind the service line, where they lead the OVC and rank 23rd nationally in service aces per set (1.80).

The one person not surprised by her team's start is Hazelwood, who spent September teaching and fine-tuning her team's performance. In particular, she focused on her team's net defense. Before conference play started, the Lady Govs were ranked ninth in the conference in blocks, averaging just 1.09 blocks per set. In conference play, the Lady Govs are ranked fourth through two weekends, averaging 1.83 blocks per set.

“I knew we had the potential to be sitting where we are now,” said Hazelwood. “You just never know with such a different mix of returnees and newcomers who is going to step up and who is going to fill certain roles. It has played out pretty well how we thought it would.

“As a coach, I couldn't ask for anything more from them when it comes to working hard, getting focused and responding when we ask them to. The credit for where we are now goes to the team because if they don't put the work in we aren't 11-5 right now. We still have a long way to go and we're trying to stress one match at a time because every match is important. We don't want to look back and wonder what could have been if we'd played the way we were capable.”

Murray State is 5-9 overall and 2-2 in conference action but has lost two straight, losing at home to league-leader Morehead State before dropping a non-conference home affair to Southern Illinois. The Racers are a better team on the road, posting a 3-2 mark. Sophomore Sara Hayden leads all OVC hitters with a .335 attack percentage, but only averages 2.09 kills per set.

Tennessee Martin, currently 4-12 overall and 2-2 in league play, visits the Dunn Center for the second time this season after playing in the Lady Govs season opening tournament. Austin Peay won that earlier meeting in four sets, UTM's second loss of what would become a 10-match losing streak. The Skyhawks have picked up league wins against Murray State and Eastern Kentucky. Freshman Ashley Doherty is ranked second among league hitters with a .291-attack percentage and fellow freshman Britany Wilburn is ranked ninth in the same category with a .244 percentage. However, neither are ranked among the league's top 10 in kills.

“I believe this team has done a great job of being focused on what is immediately in front of them,” said Hazelwood. “For example, when we played Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State we weren't looking ahead to Morehead State that next Tuesday. I believe they know Murray State and Tennessee Martin are good teams and they have to be ready to go. With the success we've had so far teams are going to come out gunning for us.”