THE LEAD
MEMPHIS –Austin Peay State University's volleyball team had few answers in a three-set (17-25, 13-25, 16-25) loss to Mississippi State, Saturday afternoon, in the Tiger Invitational at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

WHO GOVERNED
On a tough day for the Austin Peay offense, sophomore Ashley Slay finished with a team-best eight kills, four digs and two blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay's passing and serve receive had a tough time in the match and ultimately was charged with 12 reception errors while the offense was limited to 20 kills and a season-low .023 attack percentage.

The Lady Govs led the first set by as much as four points, but Mississippi State scored nine straight points as part of a set-ending 14-2 run. The Bulldogs carried that momentum through the second and third sets in the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Head coach Taylor Mott started four freshmen – Amanda Radich, Kaylee Taff, Alexandria Thornton and Kristen Stucker – for the first time this season.

Only two hitters – Slay and senior Samantha Strother – were able to finish with positive attack percentage rates.

THE QUOTABLE MOTT
"Our passing and serve receive weren't up to the quality we expect. We lost our focus in the first set and couldn't get it back the rest of the match."

THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (4-10) got off to a good start, leading most of the first set. The Lady Govs built a four-point advantage, 15-11, but Mississippi State put together a match-changing nine point run. That was the start of a set-ending 14-2 run that included four service aces.

Mississippi State (9-3) controlled the run of play in both second and third sets. Austin Peay would keep close in each set but big Bulldog runs would change the momentum. In the second set, MSU used six straight points to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 10-5 lead. In the third set, Austin Peay battled to a 5-5 tie, but a 10-3 MSU run broke the set open, 15-8.

Ashley Slay led an anemic Austin Peay offense with eight kills and a .200 attack percentage. The Lady Govs were held to 20 kills and committed 18 attack errors for a .023 attack percentage.

Mississippi State had 42 kills in the match but its 12 service aces were damaging as well. Chelsea Duhs led all hitters with 11 kills and a .474 attack percentage off the bench. Evie Grace Singleton had 10 kills and five service aces.

Austin Peay concludes its stay in Memphis with a 5 p.m. contest against Southern Miss.