THE LEAD
NORMAL, Ala. – A return to Alabama was well worth the trip as Austin Peay State University's volleyball team won its first road contest of 2015 with a five-set victory (25-17, 25-13, 15-25, 12-25, 15-12) against Alabama A&M in Tuesday nonconference action at Elmore Gym.

WHO GOVERNED
Cecily Gable posted career highs in kills (15) and attack percentage (.500) at Alabama A&M. She had an impressive five kills on six attacks (.833 attack percentage) to lead APSU in a second-set victory.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay won the opening two sets in dominating fashion. The Lady Govs had 14 kills and a .522 attack percentage in the opening frame. Austin Peay then found another gear with 14 kills and a .765 attack percentage in the second set.

Alabama A&M would not go quietly, winning the third and fourth sets. The Bulldogs won a third set that featured six ties and four lead changes thanks to a late set burst. The fourth set was a wire-to-wire win as Austin Peay had more attack errors (10) than kills (7).

Austin Peay led the fifth set early only to surrender the lead. However, the Lady Govs rallied late to secure their first road win of 2015.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Kelly Ferguson was held without a block for the first time in nine matches. She did finish the match with 11 kills – second-most among Lady Govs hitters – and a .238 attack percentage. It was her second straight 11-kill outing, which also is her career high.

Ten different Lady Govs hitters were credited with a kill in the contest as Austin Peay recorded 54 kills at a .237 attack percentage. It was the Lady Govs best attack percentage since Oct. 3 at Morehead State (.276).

The win snapped Austin Peay's 16-match road losing streak that dated back to the 2014 season. It was the eighth longest road losing streak in Division I entering the week.

THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (7-21) won a fifth set that was a microcosm of the entire match. The Lady Govs started quick, winning the first four points. APSU then committed four attack errors as part of a 6-0 AAMU run. Austin Peay would settle back into the set, scoring five straight points to secure a 12-9 lead. The Lady Govs saw two set points slide by before an Alabama A&M attack error ended the match.

The Lady Govs stormed out of the gates, winning the first two sets in dominating fashion. Austin Peay used an early 3-0 run to take a 5-3 lead and gain control of the first set, posting 14 kills and a .522 attack percentage in the set. Austin Peay then stepped up its offense in the second set, winning wire-to-wire thanks to a 14-kill outing that saw it commit just one attack error for an impressive .765 attack percentage.

Alabama A&M (10-21) responded out the of the break, rallying to tie the match at two sets apiece. The Bulldogs closed the third set with eight straight points as Austin Peay surrendered two service aces and four attack errors to see a 17-15 deficit balloon to a 25-15 loss. AAMU opened the fourth set with six straight points – an impressive 14-point run between the two sets – and did not look back in a 25-12 victory to force the fifth set.

Cecily Gable led Austin Peay with a career-high 15-kill, .500 attack percentage performance. Kelly Ferguson posted her second-straight 11-kill effort. Austin Peay finished with 54 kills and a .237 attack percentage.

Ashundria McNeal led Alabama A&M with a match-best 18 kills, but was held to a .163 attack percentage. She was the bulk of the Bulldogs 40-kill offensive outing.

Ausitn Peay returns home to begin a regular-season ending four-match homestand. The Lady Govs host Southeast Missouri in a 7 p.m., Friday, Ohio Valley Conference contest at the Dunn Center.