CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. –  Austin Peay State University opens up Atlantic Sun Conference play at Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine. 

Austin Peay enters the conference season after competing in the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic hosted by Western Kentucky. Anna Rita was named to the All-Tournament team for her 23 kills over three matches. She had seven blocks against Eastern Illinois, and her .417 hitting percentage against Arkansas State was her second-best of the season. 

The Governors face Eastern Kentucky on Thursday at 5 p.m. in Richmond. The Colonels lead the all-time series 18-16. Austin Peay fell, 3-0, to EKU in the last meeting, Oct. 27. Then on Friday, The Govs face Bellarmine at 5 p.m. in Louisville. The series is tied at 2-2, with the Knights taking a 3-1 win in the last meeting, Oct. 28. 

Up next, the Govs are at home in the Winfield Dunn Center for the first time this season to play Lipscomb and West Georgia, Oct. 4 and 5, respectively. 

THROUGH THE ROTATION

• Anna Rita leads the team with 26.0 blocks. Her 50 kills rank fourth on the team. 

• Sarah Carnathan paces the Govs with 86 kills. Her 44 digs rank fourth on the team.

• Kayleigh Ryan leads with 140 assists. She is third on the team with 71 digs and fourth with eight service aces. 

• Maggie Duyos is first on the team with 12 service aces. Her 139 assists and 93 digs rank second. 

• Tayler Baron leads the Govs with 155 digs. She is third in assists and service aces with 47 and nine, respectively. 

• 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 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, in a four set decision. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

EASTERN KENTUCKY

SERIES: Colonels lead, 18-16

LAST MEETING: EKU beat the Govs, 3-0, in Richmond, Oct. 27

BELLARMINE

SERIES: Tied at 2-2

LAST MEETING: A 3-1 Knight win, Oct. 28, in Louisville