CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's volleyball team fell 3-2 in a five-set decision to West Georgia, Saturday, at the Winfield Dunn Center.
The Governors began the first set with a 10-2 run, including three services from Kallian Cook. Austin Peay's momentum continued throughout the set, as a service ace from Maggie Duyos gave them an 11-point lead at 20-9. West Georgia cut their deficit to five points at 24-19 by a Wolves kill but could not fight the Governor set point as a kill by Sarah Carnathan gave the Govs the 25-19 set win.
The second set started back-and-forth, with a kill by Carnathan and a Wolves kill tying the set at 6. UWG began to pull away from the Govs thanks to a 7-0 run, allowing them to take a six-point lead at 12-6. Kills by Anna Rita, Payton Deidesheimer, and Carnathan allowed the Govs to get back within one point of their opponent at 14-13. The Wolves started to pull away again, as consecutive Governor attack errors gave them the set point at 24-19. A kill by Marley Staats gave the Wolves the 25-20 set win, tying the match at 1-1.
The two teams traded points to begin the third set, with a kill by Deidesheimer and UWG's Alex Starting tying the set at 15. The Wolves went on a 9-4 run, taking the lead by four at 23-19. The Governors were unable to fight off UWG's set point as the Wolves took the third set, 25-20 and the 2-1 match lead.
The Govs took the early lead in the fourth set, going up 18-6 on their opponent. The Wolves got within nine points at 20-11 but could not catch up with the Governor's early lead. The Wolves fought off four Austin Peay set points, but ultimately, the fourth set went to the Govs, 25-14, tying the match at 2-2.
West Georgia started the fifth set on a 9-4 run. The Governors got within three points of the Wolves at 13-10 from a Carnathan kill from a Kayleigh Ryan assist. However, the Wolves continued to battle and eventually took the 15-11 fifth-set win for a 3-2 victory.
Up next, Austin Peay hosts Central Arkansas and North Alabama next Friday and Saturday at the Winfield Dunn Center.