LOVELAND, Ohio – Austin Peay State University's beach volleyball team picked up a win over Liberty, 4-1, in its first match of the day, but the Governors fell to Eastern Kentucky, 3-2, to close out the season-opening Grand Sands Tournament, Sunday.

In the first match of the day, the Governor took the early lead when Erin Eisenhart and Karli Graham beat Liberty's Taylor Arnold in straight-sets. The Flames were able to score their only point of the match in the No. 5 flight when they knocked off the freshman duo of Tristin Smith and Payton Deidesheimer.

The No. 1 match was the next to go final with Marlayna Bullington and Kelsey Mead pushing the Govs lead to 2-1 with a pair of 21-13 set wins. Then it was Chloee McDaniel and Mikayla Powell clinching the victory for the Governors with a straight-sets win on the No. 2 line.

With the wins secured, Elizabeth Wheat and Jamie Seward picked up another point for Austin Peay with a three-set win in the No. 3 match.

In a rematch with Eastern Kentucky, the Governors got on the board first with Wheat and Seward beating Maddy Campbell and Elizabeth Fonvielle in straight-sets on the No. 4 line. But the Colonels evened the match with a three-set victory over Smith and Graham in the No. 5 flight.

Austin Peay retook the lead when the No. 1 match went final with Bullington and Mead picking up their second straight-sets win to push the lead to 2-1.

But Eastern Kentucky picked up wins over McDaniel and Powell on the No. 2 line and Seyring and Eisenhart on the No. 3 line to secure the match win.

Austin Peay is back in action when it travels to Florence, Alabama where it will play a doubleheader with North Alabama, March 10, before playing 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. matches against Liberty and North Alabama, respectively, March 11.

For news and updates on everything Governors beach volleyball, follow along on Twitter and Instagram (@GovsBVB) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.

Grand Sands Tournament Day Two Results

Austin Peay def. Liberty, 4-1

1. Marlayna Bullington/Kelsey Mead def. Kaitlyn Holbrook/Lizzy Armstrong (LU) 21-13, 21-13|
2. Chloee McDaniel/Mikayla Powell def. Sydnie Metzker/Cara Lecklider (LU) 21-14, 21-13
3. Jamie Seward/Elizabeth Wheat def. Grace Cropper/Heather Forton (LU) 21-19, 19-21, 15-7
4. Erin Eisenhart/Karli Graham def. Taylor Arnold/Jill Kater (LU) 21-12, 21-15
5. Abigail Luke/Emma Taylor (LU) def. Tristin Smith/Payton Deidesheimer 8-21, 21-10, 15-11
Ext. BrennaRae Bentley/Gracie Hall (LU) def. Jenna Salyer/Abby Thigpen 22-20, 13-21, 15-10
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3

Eastern Kentucky def. Austin Peay, 3-2

1. Marlayna Bullington/Kelsey Mead def. Shannon Stone/Sarah Mitchell (EKU) 21-11, 21-16
2. Paityn Walker/Hannah Keating (EKU) def. Chloee McDaniel/Mikayla Powell 21-17, 21-14
3. Rachel Mueller/Bella Williams (EKU) def. Tegan Seyring/Erin Eisenhart 21-18, 13-21, 15-10
4. Elizabeth Wheat/Jamie Seward def. Maddy Campbell/Elizabeth Fonvielle (EKU) 21-14, 21-17
5. EK Lonergan/Arilyn Lee (EKU) def. Karli Graham/Tristin Smith 18-21, 21-14, 15-10
Ext. Payton Deidesheimer/Emily Freel vs. Sami Deidesheimer/London Moultrie 21-19, 16-21, unfinished
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3