CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. –  n Peay State University's volleyball team wraps up its nonconference season at the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic hosted by Western Kentucky, Sept. 20-21, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Austin Peay (1-7) enters the weekend after the Lindenwood Invitational, Sept. 14. Payton Deidesheimer was named to the Lindenwood Invitational All-Tournament Team for her 24 kills over two matches. She had two blocks against Southern Illinois, Sept. 14. 

The Govs face Eastern Illinois at 1 p.m. and Arkansas State at 5 p.m., Friday, and Western Kentucky at 1:30 p.m., Saturday. 

The Govs are 22-16 all-time against Eastern Illinois, with the last meeting being a 3-1 Govs' win in the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season finale. Arkansas State leads the all-time series, 2-0, with the last meeting being a 3-1 Redwolf win at the Blue Raider Bash. Western Kentucky leads the all-time series 14-1, with the Hilltoppers taking a 3-0 win last season in a wire-to-wire victory at the Winnfield Dunn Center. 

After the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic, the Govs begin Atlantic Sun Conference play against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 26, in Richmond, Kentucky. 

THROUGH THE ROTATION

• Payton Deidesheimer leads the team with 21.0 blocks. Her 60 kills rank second for the Govs. 

• Sarah Carnathan leads Govs with 62 kills. Her 9.0 blocks rank fifth on the team. 

• Kayleigh Ryan leads with 102 assists. Her eight service aces are tied with Maggie Duyos for best on the team.

• Duyo's 93 assists and 66 digs are second on the team.

• Defensive specialist Kalliann Cook enters her sophomore season after a successful freshman campaign. Cook's 17 service aces and 266 digs ranked second on the team while her 61 assists ranked third. 

• Outside hitter, Sarah Carnathan returns after having 125 kills last season, averaging 1.79 per set. The junior has 186 kills in her first two seasons with the Govs, averaging 1.51 per set. 

• Setter Maggie Duyos played in 18 matches for the Govs during her freshman season and finished second on the team with 199 assists, averaging 3.55 per set. She also had 77 digs on the season, highlighted by a nine-dig performance at North Florida, Nov. 11.

• Junior middle blocker Payton Deidesheimer played in 20 matches last season and made seven starts. She totaled 109 kills and had a career-high of 17 kills at Stetson, Oct. 14.

• Middle blocker Anna Rita also enjoyed a successful freshman year, appearing in 24 matches and making 18 starts. She had 73 blocks on the season, ranking third on the team. Her career-high nine blocks came against Central Arkansas, Nov. 10. She had a career-high .667 hitting percentage with four kills on six swings at Eastern Kentucky, Oct. 27. 

• Junior defensive specialist Emma Loiars returns after appearing in 49 sets for the Govs last season. She totaled 92 digs, averaging 1.88 per game with a career-high of 14 digs twice against Lindenwood and Indiana State, Sept. 1. 

SUPPORTING ITEMS

• Head coach Taylor Mott earned her 200th victory with the Governors in the 3-0 win against Mississippi Valley, Aug. 30.

• Mott earned her 500th career win against St. Louis, Sept. 15, 2023. 

• The Govs are 116-69 against OVC opponents, 6-6 against Sun Belt Conference opponents, and 11-13 against Conference USA opponents. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

EASTERN ILLINOIS
SERIES: Govs lead, 22-16
LAST MEETING: The Govs won, 3-1, in their 2021 Ohio Valley Conference regular season finale.

ARKANSAS STATE
SERIES: Redwolves lead, 2-0
LAST MEETING: A 3-1 Redwolf win at the Blue Raider Bash, Sept. 7

WESTERN KENTUCKY
SERIES: WKU leads, 14-1
LAST MEETING: 3-0 Hilltopper win in a wire-to-wire victory at the Winfield Dunn Center, Sept. 12, 2023.