FLORENCE, Ala. — Austin Peay State University's volleyball team fell to North Alabama 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-21, 16-14), Friday, in the CB&S Bank Arena.
Two North Alabama attack errors staked the Govs to an early 3-2 in set one. Alison Coy maintained the lead with a kill at 5-4, and Cree Hollier added her first ace of the night at 7-6. The Govs capitalized on a Lion error to lead at 9-8 and a Taly Cloyd kill at 13-12 and 14-13. The Governors scored their final six points on three Lauren Wallace kills, and three North Alabama errors, but would drop the first set 25-22.
The second set was highlighted by a four-point scoring run with a Nicole Okojie kill, Lion attack error, Hollier kill, and a final Lion error to tie the set 15-15. The Governors tied the set at the 16th, 18th, and the 19th points. Austin Peay would score three final sequential points on a Wallace kill, Hollier kill, and Cloyd kill, but would fall to the Lions 25-22 in the second set.
The comeback began in the third set, which began with a 7-4 Govs run following kills from Coy, Malena Benz, Hollier, and an attack error. The Governors continued this lead through the 13th point with two North Alabama errors, three kills from Cloyd and one from Coy. After a North Alabama run, Austin Peay reclaimed their lead late at 23-22 with an attack error from the Lions following three straight kills, two of which from Okojie. The Governors and the Lions exchanged points for five points until the Governors sealed the set with a Coy and Okojie block and a Coy kill to win the set 27-25.
The fourth set was Austin Peay's most dominant effort of the night, as the Govs raced out to a 7-0 lead on four Lion errors, two Benz kills, and a Coy ace. The Governors maintained an eight-point lead again at 20-12 following three straight Govs points with a Hollier kill, Benz kill, and North Alabama error. Hollier notched her second ace of the night with the Govs 22nd point. Austin Peay kept its night alive with a final Coy kill, Lion error and a Wallace kill to conclude the set 25-21, forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.
The Govs began the final set with a six-point lead at 9-3, and maintained the advantage until it was 13-7 after a North Alabama service error and Cloyd kill. However, a 7-0 North Alabama scoring run brought the Lions back from the brink; the hosts earned the final three points of the match to take the set 16-14, and the match 3-2.
Box Score Bullets
- The Governors posted a .341 attack percent and a .297 attack percentage in the third and fourth sets.
- Nicole Okojie led the team with nine blocks, besting her previous season high of seven against Tennessee Tech (Sept. 4), Bowling Green (Sept. 11), SIUE (Sept. 18), and Tarleton State (Oct. 3).
- Cloyd posted 15 kills, 2 off her season high. Cree Hollier matched her season high of 14 kills.
- Brooklynn Merrell assisted on 28 points and Reagan Anderson led the team with 27 digs.
Up Next
The Governors meet Central Arkansas for the second time this season, and the first time at home Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.
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