CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - An early battle of Ohio Valley Conference unbeatens saw Austin Peay State University's volleyball team prevail in a 3-1 (25-22, 25-12, 20-25, 25-20) victory against Morehead State, Tuesday night, at the Dunn Center.

Austin Peay (10-4, 4-0 OVC) put up big numbers at the service line and defensively while also seeing its middle blocking pair - juniors Jessica Mollman and Taylor Skinner - combine for 20 kills in the victory. The Lady Govs scored a season-high nine service aces and won the back-row defensive battle, a 91-79 digs margin, as expected. However, they posted a surprise in the front row with a 6-5 blocking edge against the league's best blocking squad.

The service game featured prominently in Austin Peay's victories in set one and two. The Lady Govs grabbed a 3-0 lead in the opening set and would not trail. Morehead State would tie the set five times but committed service errors on their ensuing possession each of the last three times, including crucially at 22-22. The ensuing service error sparked a 3-0 APSU set-ending run, highlighted by Skinner's service ace - APSU's third of the set.

Austin Peay used five service aces to blow open the second set. After taking the lead, 5-4, senior outside hitter Stephanie Champine served seven straight points, including three service aces while senior Kirstin Distler scored back-to-back kills. However, it was consecutive service aces by Skinner - giving APSU a 16-6 advantage -that forced a Morehead State timeout and put the set away.

Morehead State (10-5, 3-1) rallied back in the third set as its offense finally found its footing, recording 16 kills and a match-high .273 attack percentage in the set. Junior middle blocker Holly Evans recorded six kills in the set as Morehead State did not trail in the set and led by as many as seven points. The Lady Govs offense continued to hum along, recording 14 kills but could not keep pace with the Eagles attack.

The fourth set was in the Eagles favor early, but they could not grab more than a two-point advantage. Austin Peay responded by turning to Mollman, its own middle blocker, who recorded six kills in the fourth set. Skinner added three kills in relief of Mollman as the Lady Govs offense hit full stride with 19 kills in the final set. The Lady Govs forced three ties and took the lead for good on a Distler kill at 16-15. However, they did not lead comfortably with a three-point margin being their largest advantage. It ultimately took a pair of Champine kills as part of a 3-0 set-ending burst to put the match away.

Champine led the Lady Govs with 19 kills, her 10th consecutive double-digit kill performance. Mollman added 11 kills and Skinner chipped in nine kills. Defensively, sophomore libero Paige Economos recorded a career-high 31 digs in the victory.

Evans led Morehead State with 13 kills and freshman middle blocker Annie Gruenschlaeger added 12 kills.

Austin Peay continues its four-match home stand this weekend when it hosts OVC defending champion Tennessee Tech in a 7 p.m., Friday, contest. The Lady Govs then host fellow OVC unbeaten Jacksonville State in a 2 p.m., Saturday, affair.

- AP -