#GovsGavel: Strother's double-double helps Lady Govs quench Blazers for first time
THE LEAD
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Senior outside hitter Samantha Strother's 12-kill, 14-dig effort helped Austin Peay State University post its first-ever win against UAB in a three-set (25-15, 25-22, 28-26) victory, Saturday morning at the Scenic City Showdown at Maclellan Gym.
WHO GOVERNED
Freshman setter Kristen Stucker recorded a career-best 47 assists on 50 APSU kills in the win. She also had eight digs and three block assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After running away with the opening set, Austin Peay did not lead the second or third sets by more than four points. A four-point run midway through the second helped APSU clinch that frame. But it was a three-point burst to end the third that won the match.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
It was Austin Peay's first victory against UAB in program history. Austin Peay lost earlier this season at UAB with Saturday's win coming in the series' ninth meeting.
Strother posted her season's second double-double and she is the only attacker with a double-double this season (setter Aubrey Marsellis has the other).
THE QUOTABLE TAYLOR MOTT
"Blocking made the difference for us against UAB. Kristen (Stucker) did a great job getting the right hitters the ball at the right time. It was our first win against UAB… a great win for our program."
THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (4-6) got off to a slow start and UAB took advantage to build a 4-1 lead in the opening set. Yet the Lady Govs countered with their own 4-1 lead to tie the set, 5-5, for the first of six times. A three-point burst with Strother serving broke the set open and APSU closed the set by scoring nine of the final 12 points to win 25-15.
The second set started with Austin Peay and UAB battling through eight ties and two lead changes in the opening 20 points, the result being a 10-10 tie. A four-point run sparked by back-to-back kills from freshman Cecily Gable and sophomore Ashley Slay gave the Lady Govs some much-needed breathing room. Austin Peay could not build the lead larger, but would not surrender the lead the rest of the set as they went on to win 25-22.
Austin Peay poured on the offense in the third set, recording 21 of its 50 kills in the frame. Despite the outburst, the Lady Govs would not lead by more than four points in the set's first half. UAB would rally to tie the set at 16-16 and the final stretch featured nine ties and three lead changes as the teams ran headlong into overtime. Austin Peay fended off a set point at 25-26 courtesy a Strother kill and APSU followed with a kill by Kaylee Taff and a Strother service ace to clinch the set, 28-26.
Strother finished with her season's second double-double, recording 12 kills and 14 digs along with her match-clinch service ace and two blocks. Freshman Cecily Gable added 11 kills at a .429 attack percentage. Freshman Kristen Stucker posted a career-high 47 assists to guide the APSU offense.
Gabby Deshotel led UAB with 17 kills but was held to a .200 attack percentage. UAB's offense recorded just 37 kills and was limited to a .174 attack percentage courtesy a nine-block outing by Austin Peay.
