CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - As home openers go it was nearly everything the Austin Peay State University volleyball team expected as it rolled to a 3-1 (25-11, 19-25, 25-12, 25-20) victory against Tennessee State, Friday night, in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams at the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay (7-4, 1-0 OVC) made a positive first impression in front of its home crowd with a dominating first-set performance. After battling to a 5-5 tie, the Lady Govs scored six of the next eight points to take an 11-7 lead and then broke the set open with seven consecutive points to take a 17-7 advantage. They would not be threatened the rest of the way en route to a 25-11 set win.

Tennessee State (1-10, 0-1 OVC) shook off its first set performance and responded with some offensive fireworks of its own. The Lady Tigers used 13 kills in the second set, their best effort of the match, to overwhelm the Lady Govs. Tennessee State grabbed the lead, 7-6, courtesy three consecutive points and solidified the advantage with a 7-4 run to take a 21-17 advantage. A final 4-2 dash sealed the set at 25-19.

The Lady Govs returned from the break and put together a nearly flawless third set, recording 13 kills, five service aces and 22 digs to score the 25-12 victory. Sophomore Ilyanna Hernandez and junior middle blocker Jessica Mollman had five kills each in the set while senior opposite hitter Kirstin Distler scored three service aces.

Tennessee State kept the fourth set close throughout, but could not answer Austin Peay's best offensive performance of the match - a 16-kill outing that gave the Lady Govs a 25-20 victory. Senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine recorded six kills with no errors in the final set.

"We had a total team effort tonight," said Lady Govs head coach Mike Johnson. "When we played to our level and standards we were exceptional."

Champine led Austin Peay with 16 kills - her seventh consecutive double-digit kill performance - and 17 digs. Hernandez finished with 12 kills while Mollman chipped in 11 kills and a team-best .389 attack percentage. Distler had just nine kills but, along with junior middle blocker Taylor Skinner, recorded four service aces.

"We nearly had four players with double-digit kills and that was a result of our ball control which was disciplined," said Johnson. "Ilyanna had a great match. She did a good job taking what the defense gave her tonight. Jessica came unglued in the third and fourth sets and really opened up the offense. (Junior setter Sarah) Alisaleh did a good job running the offense and distributed the ball well which allowed us to open up the offense."

Tennessee State had just 36 kills and committed 21 errors in the contest. Sophomore outside hitter Terakka Walker led the Lady Tigers with 11 kills.

Austin Peay now prepares for a brief two-match conference road swing, beginning with a Friday, Sept. 25, contest at Southeast Missouri.

- AP -