EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Austin Peay State University found itself in another road battle but prevailed with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 26-24) non-conference victory at SIU Edwardsville, Tuesday night.

Austin Peay (15-6) trailed by five points early in the first set but used a 9-4 run to tie the set, 12-12. It was the first of 11 ties and six lead changes in the set. A pair of kills by senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine gave the Lady Govs a 23-21 lead and she would score another two kills to seal the victory, 25-23.

The second set was less dramatic as Austin Peay built a 14-11 lead and expanded it to 20-14 before en route to the 25-20 win. Champine had six kills on nine attacks in the set.

SIU Edwardsville (1-20) jumped out in the third set, winning nine of the first ten points - the lone point it surrendered came on its own attack error. Austin Peay chipped away at the lead until tying the set, 18-18. The Lady Govs took their first lead, 20-19, courtesy a service ace by libero Paige Economos but could not build a significant lead. It took a Champine kill and a Distler service ace to end the set in overtime, 26-24.

"Tonight was very encouraging in that we did a great job with our serving and passing," said Lady Govs head coach Mike Johnson. "Paige (Economos) had a great night controlling the ball and (Kirstin) Distler got on track early. In the third set we showed tremendous resiliance. This is a team that never gives up."

Champine recorded six kills in each set and finished with 18 kills and a .286 attack percentage. Distler added 14 kills and a .367 attack percentage. Austin Peay's offense recorded 47 kills in the victory. The Lady Govs also had seven service aces in the match, Distler and Economos each posting a pair of aces.

Brittni Birkey and Sydney Winslow each had eight kills to lead SIU Edwardsville, which finished with 40 kills as a team.

Austin Peay returns home for a two-match homestand, beginning with a 7 p.m., Friday, Ohio Valley Conference contest against Eastern Illinois.

- AP -