CLARKSVILLE – In front of a raucous home crowd, Austin Peay State University's volleyball team swept Murray State (25-20, 25-23, 25-17) to remain unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference play, Tuesday night, at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (9-10, 3-0 OVC) cruised to a 25-20 victory in the opening set as senior outside hitter Jada Stotts recorded six kills without an error in the frame. The Lady Govs recorded 16 kills and a .316 attack percentage in the first set while holding Murray State to 14 kills and a .189 attack percentage.
Murray State (11-4, 2-1 OVC) threatened to run away with the second set, using a 10-1 run to build a 16-9 advantage. Austin Peay cut into the lead with four straight points, but it was a 6-0 APSU run – with three kills by sophomore Sammie Ebright – that closed the gap to one point, 20-19.
Murray State got on the cusp of set point, leading 23-21, but could not find a 24th point. Instead, Austin Peay scored the final four points of the set with freshman Ashley Slay providing two kills and Stotts another before a Racers attack error ended the set with APSU winning, 25-23.
Murray State opened the third set with a 6-0 run, including four kills, before Austin Peay responded with a 6-0 run of its own, with just two kills and a service ace. The Lady Govs used a 7-2 run, including three kills by Ebright, to take control of the set, 17-12. The teams would trade points until Ebright struck again with back-to-back kills to secure a 25-17 victory for the match.
Ebright finished with 14 kills and a team-leading .444 attack percentage, while chipping in three blocks. Stotts added 15 kills at a .282 attack percentage. Austin Peay finished with 47 kills and a .267 attack percentage for the match.
Scottie Ingram led Murray State with 10 kills, but was the only Racers hitter to reach double-digit kill territory. Murray State recorded just 38 kills at a .131 attack percentage in the loss.
Austin Peay concludes its four-match homestand when it hosts defending OVC champion Morehead State in a 2 p.m., Saturday contest at the Dunn Center.