CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? A sluggish start doomed Austin Peay State University's volleyball team in a 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 26-24) loss to Butler in the Owls Challenge opening match, Friday afternoon.

Austin Peay (4-2) had offensive troubles in both the first two set, recording only 10 kills in each set, as Butler pounded out 15 kills in the opening set followed by 13 kills in set two as it cruised to a 2-0 lead.

Butler (4-1) threatened to complete the sweep in set three, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. However, Austin Peay scored the next five points and later gained full control with a 6-1 scoring burst turned a 10-10 tie into a 16-11 lead, which they would not relinquish.

The Bulldogs again jumped out to a sizeable 8-2 lead in set four. The Lady Govs cut the lead to two points, 8-6, only to watch it expand back to six points, 14-8. Butler would get within two points of the match, 23-19, but watched Austin Peay rattle off five consecutive points to get within one point, 24-23, of winning the set and forcing a decisive fifth set. However, the Lady Govs could not score the set-winning point and watched Butler post three straight points to seal the match with a 26-24 win.

“Butler played well today but we didn't come ready to play,” said Lady Govs head coach Jenny Hazelwood. “It's still the little things that are coming back to cost of sets right now. We have to be able to make adjustments as the match goes along and we aren't doing that right now. But that is part of the growing pains with a young team and we will have to learn quickly.”

Junior Kirstin Distler led the Lady Govs with 15 kills and a .270 attack percentage. Sophomore Jessica Mollman recovered from a slow start to post 12 kills and a .269 attack percentage. Of particular concern was the Lady Govs service game which posted five service aces but committed 11 errors.

Butler sophomore Jessica Wolfe led all hitters with 16 kills. Junior Porshia Allen added 13 kills and a .235 attack percentage. The Bulldogs finished with seven service aces ? three by sophomore Katie Daprile.

Austin Peay returns to action with an 11:30 a.m., Saturday contest, against host Kennesaw State. The Lady Govs stay at the Owls Challenge concludes with a 4 p.m. affair against Loyola (Md.).