CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University's volleyball team rolled to an opening-set victory but could not maintain its early momentum and dropped a four-set ASUN Conference decision (25-15, 24-26, 25-18, 25-21) to Central Arkansas, Saturday at the Dunn Center.
Austin Peay (10-11, 3-7 ASUN) raced out to an early lead in the first set and led 10-4. A 6-0 run later in the set pushed the Govs advantage to 21-10 and they didn't look back. APSU put together a nearly-perfect frame with 16 kills and one attack error (.536 attack percentage). Jaida Clark paced that effort with four kills and two blocks.
Central Arkansas (15-8, 7-3 ASUN) leveled the match with a late rally in the second set. After a back-and-forth battle throughout the set, Austin Peay got to set point first, 24-23, after a UCA service error. However, the Govs couldn't take advantage with an attack error tying the score. Central Arkansas' Alexis Stumbough served up back-to-back aces to end the set.
Stumbough was pivotal in the Sugar Bears' third-set win as well. Austin Peay closed to within two points at 17-15, but Stumbough took over at the service line and led a 7-0 run to halt the Govs' momentum and give UCA set point, 24-15. Austin Peay fended off a trio of set points thanks to kills by Mikayla Powell and Tegan Seyring as well as a block by Elizabeth Wheat. But Jamiryana Hall ended the Govs run with a kill to claim the set.
Austin Peay led midway through the fourth set, 14-9, after piecing together an 8-2 run. Central Arkansas got to its favored rotation with Stumbough at the service line again and she led a 5-0 run to give UCA a 18-17 lead. A mini 3-0 run late run later in the set gave the Sugar Bears a 22-19 lead that would prove enough of a window to trade side outs to the victory.
Austin Peay's offense outperformed Central Arkansas by a 60-46 margin in kills. However, UCA proved more efficient with just 18 attack errors against the Govs' 30.
Powell led the Govs with 16 kills. Clark added a career-high tying 14 kills at a .545 attack percentage and five blocks. Tegan Seyring chipped in 12 kills.
Charlie Tidwell led Central Arkansas with a 15-kill performance. Hall added 11 kills for the Sugar Bears.
Austin Peay returns to the road to open an ASUN road trip with a 5 p.m., Friday match at Liberty.