CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Austin Peay State University's volleyball team fell to North Alabama 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 15-25, 14-16) , Thursday, in the Winfield Dunn Center.
The start of the first set was highlighted by a Cree Hollier kill and a solo block to lead, 4-2. The Governors maintained the lead until the media timeout with consecutive points with a kill and an error for points seven and eight, and four consecutive points from a Hollier kill, two straight Reagan Anderson aces, and a North Alabama attack error to lead 13-9. The Govs scored their next seven points on four kills and three North Alabama errors, with two kills from Hollier and two from Lauren Wallace. Coy concluded the set with a kill assisted from Sarah Butler to finish the set in the Govs favor 25-22.
Austin Peay opened the second set with a 12-4 lead and maintained the lead until a 10-5 UNA run late in the frame gave the Lions a 22-21 lead. After a Nicole Okojie kill tied the set at 22, the Lions scored three-straight points to win the set and tie the match at one set apiece.
The Governors cut an early deficit to 14-13 midway through the third set following an Okojie kill and UNA attack error. After a third stalemate brought the set to a 21-21 tie, UNA scored back-to-back points; however, APSU answered with three-straight points to force a set point. After exchanging scores, an Alison Coy solo block sealed an extended 26-24 third-set victory.
North Alabama jumped out to an early, 13-2 advantage in the penultimate set. The Govs cut their deficit to as few as eight points, but UNA won the frame, 25-15, to force a fifth.
The Governors got the first initial point in the final set and their next two consecutively on a kill and a Wallce ace. Austin Peay then went on a three-point streak all on Lions' errors, two attacking, and a Okojie and Coy block. The Govs then scored two straight on an Okojie kill and a Hollier kill for the Govs to lead 8-4 going into a North Alabama timeout. UNA responded to a 3-0 APSU run with three-straight points itself to lead 14-13. After fending off a match point with a Cloyd kill, UNA won the match after an APSU service error and block.
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Up Next
The Governors meet Abilene Christian for the second time this season, and the first time in the Winfield Dunn Center Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m.
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