THE LEAD
MARTIN, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's volleyball team could not overcome a bad case of jitters in its Ohio Valley Conference opener, falling to UT Martin in three sets (16-25, 15-25, 15-25), Friday night at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

WHO GOVERNED
Freshman Logan Carger was a bright spot for the Austin Peay offense, leading the way in both kills (nine) and attack percentage (.250). She added a block and her nine points were nearly a third of the APSU offense (29 points scored).  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Austin Peay could not find its offense all night, committing as many errors as it had kills in both the first and second sets. But saw its attack percentage turn negative in the third set as it had eight attack errors against seven kills.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Austin Peay was held to a negative attack percentage (minus-.010) for the first time this season as it committed 25 attack errors against only 24 kills.

Six hitters ended the night with a negative attack percentage. Only Carger and senior Aubrey Marsellis ended with positive attack percentages.

It is Austin Peay's second straight loss at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

THE QUOTABLE MOTT
"We battled our nerves tonight. We just couldn't get out of our own way. Logan was a bright spot, it was her best outing this season."

THE FULL RECAP
Austin Peay (5-11, 0-1 OVC) could not get its offense on the right track throughout the match. The tone was set early in the first set when four APSU attack errors helped UT Martin build a 7-1 lead. Austin Peay would ultimately level its attack percentage (10 kills, 10 attack errors) but could not climb back into the set in a 25-16 loss.

UT Martin (5-13, 1-0 OVC) recovered from its own first-set offensive woes – it posted a .185 attack percentage in the win – to dominate the second and third sets. The Skyhawks recorded 14 kills and an attack percentage better than .300 in each set, winning both frames by a 25-15 margin to claim the match.

Freshman Logan Carger led Austin Peay with nine kills while posting a .250 attack percentage. Senior Aubrey Marsellis added three kills at a .333 attack percentage. However, Austin Peay was held to 24 kills and committed 25 attack errors for a minus-.010 attack percentage.

Kiah Cheatham led UT Martin with 14 kills and an errorless performance (.667 attack percentage). Alisha Erves added 10 kills to pace the Skyhawks 35-kill outing.

Austin Peay continues its OVC-opening road swing with a 5 p.m., Saturday contest at Southeast Missouri.