Lady Govs remain unbeaten in OVC play, top Tech 3-0

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech volleyball team hoped to slow down a streaking Austin Peay squad Friday night in Eblen Center, and challenged the Lady Govs in a couple of sets, but the visitors eventually claimed a 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference victory.

After cruising to a 25-13 win in the opening set, the Lady Govs trailed most of the second set before rallying to post a 25-19 victory for a 2-0 lead. In the third set, Tech fought back in the late points from a 24-22 defecit before Austin Peay prevailed, 27-25, for the clincher.

With the win, Austin Peay remained unbeaten in the conference with a 3-0 record and improved to 12-2 overall. The Golden Eagles saw their marks slip to exactly the opposite, with an 0-3 worksheet in the league and a 2-12 overall record.

"We're really still very inconsistent," said Golden Eagle coach John Blair. "If you play a team that executes well, you need to do the same. In the first set we didn't do what we needed to do."

Tech turns things around quickly, hosting Tennessee State Saturday at 2 p.m. in Eblen Center.

"We will need to play our best and play the way we practice," Blair said. "TSU will come in fired up and ready to go."

Austin Peay was led by Nikki Doyle with 14 kills and a .353 hitting percentage. Setter Sarah Alisaleh had a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs. Ilyanna Hernandez also posted a double-double for the Lady Govs with 10 kills and 10 digs.

Freshman Natalie Penrod had seven kills to top the Tech offense while Leah MEffert and Kelsey Grayadded six kills each. Meffert's 13 digs led the defense and Melanie Culp had 23 assists.