EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Austin Peay State University's volleyball team had four match point opportunities, but could not capitalize and fell in five sets (25-19, 25-22, 27-29, 16-25, 14-16) to SIU Edwardsville in Ohio Valley Conference action, Friday night, at the Vadalabene Center.

Austin Peay (6-17, 4-8 OVC) used strong offensive efforts to win the opening two sets. The Lady Govs needed just 12 kills while SIU Edwardsville committed nine errors to win the opening frame, 25-19. The Cougars led the second set until Austin Peay scored six consecutive points, including two kills from both freshman Liz Landon and junior Nikki Doyle, to take a 22-20 lead which they held en route to a 25-22 win.

SIU Edwardsville (9-15, 4-8 OVC) again led most of the way in the third set and held a 20-14 lead. However, Austin Peay again rallied, scoring eight straight points to take a 22-20 lead. This time the Cougars fought back to tie the set, 22-22 and the teams traded points through five more ties. Austin Peay would have two match point opportunities - at 26-25 and 27-26 - but SIUE fought off both chances with kills. After the Lady Govs 27-26, the Cougars scored three straight points to win the set, 29-27.

There wasn't any drama to the fourth set as SIU Edwardsville broke out to a 10-2 lead. Austin Peay would not get closer than seven points, 21-14, the rest of the way before the Cougars won 25-16.

However, it is the fifth set that will haunt Austin Peay. The Lady Govs trailed most of the set until taking its first lead at 11-10. The Cougars tied the set on the next serve but Austin Peay used a Doyle kill and back-to-back SIUE attack errors to get to match point, 14-11. But SIU Edwardsville found its attack scoring four kills in the final five points, staving off a pair of APSU match points en route to a 16-14 victory.

After outhitting SIU Edwardsville in the opening three sets, Austin Peay's offense virtually vanished in the final two sets. The Lady Govs managed just 20 kills against 11 errors (.150 attack percentage) in the closing two frames while the Cougars rallied thanks to 25 kills and seven errors (.272 attack percentage) in that span.

Doyle led the Lady Govs with 19 kills and posted a .319 attack percentage, she did most of her damage in the second and fourth sets, recording seven and six kills, respective in the two frames. Freshman Hillary Plybon added 13 kills and a .550 attack percentage while senior Ilyanna Hernandez added 12 kills (.121 attack percentage).

Jess Hemann led SIU Edwardsville with 15 kills, including four kills in both the fourth and fifth sets, while committing one error for a .500 attack percentage. Kelsey Augustine added 12 kills and Emma Anderson chipped in 11 kills. Freshman Cami Fields had three kills, 51 assists, 19 kills and two blocks.

Austin Peay continues its Illinois road trip when it faces Eastern Illinois in a 6 p.m., Saturday contest at Lantz Arena.

- AP -