CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's volleyball team opened its stay at the Country Inn & Suites Challenge by downing host Chattanooga, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-15), Friday night at Maclellan Gymnasium.

Austin Peay (5-3) scored the match's first five points to force a Chattanooga timeout. The Lady Mocs responded with a 10-4 run of their own to take their only lead of the first set, 10-9. The Lady Govs immediately tied the match and the two teams posted traded the lead six more times until senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine's kill gave APSU a 17-16 advantage it would not relinquish.

 The second set was a battle throughout with 15 ties, but there was only one lead change. Chattanooga scored the first point and held on to its slim advantage until Champine struck again to give APSU its first lead, 21-20. Chattanooga would tie the game one more time, 23-23, but the Lady Govs scored the set's final two points.

Following the break, Austin Peay jumped out again in the third set, scoring seven of the first eight points to lead 7-1 and force a UTC timeout. Chattanooga closed back with three points, 10-7, before a 9-3 Austin Peay run put the set away. The set also set freshman Alex Sain log her first appearance and she responded with a kill as part of the Lady Govs opening run.

 Champine led the Lady Govs with 16 kills and a .286 attack percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Ilyanna Hernandez added 11 kills. Sophomore Kayla Grantham made her first appearance at middle blocker and posted four kills and a .273 attack percentage.

Austin Peay won despite a sluggish offensive performance that saw it record 44 kills but only with a .176 attack percentage. The Lady Govs compensated with six service aces and 5.5 blocks.

"It's encouraging that we could beat a quality team like Chattanooga even though we were not quite at our best," said Lady Govs head coach Mike Johnson. "I told the team it is about our level of improvement and we will be better tomorrow. I would like to congratulate Alex (Sain) on her first collegiate kill. She has a bright future ahead of her. Stephanie (Champine) also was excellent. She dug deep when we needed her."

Chattanooga also had a difficult offensive night with just 31 kills and a .102 attack percentage. Junior middle blocker Courtney Barnes led the Lady Mocs with nine kills and a .333 attack percentage.

The Lady Govs continue play in Chattanooga, Saturday, when they meet Loyola (Ill.) in an 8:30 a.m. (CDT) contest. Their stay concludes with a 1:30 p.m. (CDT) outing against SIU Edwardsville. Loyola defeated SIU Edwardsville, 3-1, in the Friday's first match.

- AP -