WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@SIUE 3, Eastern Illinois 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-14)
Austin Peay 3, @Middle Tennesee 0 (25-23, 32-30, 25-15)
AUSTIN PEAY 3, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 0
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Redshirt junior Christina White opened the match with four straight service aces and Austin Peay State University’s volleyball team raced to a three-set (25-13, 32-30, 25-15) nonconference win against Middle Tennessee, Wednesday night at Alumni Memorial Gym.
Austin Peay (24-4) posted 11 service aces as a team with White posting seven aces – the most by a Governor since 2008 and only one shy of the program record. The Govs cruised to wins in the first and third sets thanks largely to White, who served up a 7-1 start in the opening frame and a 7-0 start to the third set.
Middle Tennessee (7-20) would force an exciting second set that featured 16 ties and five lead changes. Each team would see four chances at set point denied by the other side before Austin Peay converted on its fifth opportunity to claim the 32-30 win and regain much needed momentum.
Senior Ashley Slay led the Govs offense with 12 kills and a .588 attack percentage. Freshman Brooke Moore added 10 kills and a pair of service aces.
Dora Peonia paced Middle Tennessee with a match-best 13 kills. Makila York added 12 kills.
SIUE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE volleyball captured its 20th win of the season Wednesday with a 25-22, 27-25, 25-14 victory over Eastern Illinois at the Vadalabene Center.
The Cougars improved to 20-5 overall and 10-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference by defeating Eastern Illinois for the fourth straight time in the series. EIU dropped to 12-13 overall and 6-7 in the OVC.
Jackie Scott recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs. Taylor Joens and Ashley Witt chipped in nine kills each.
SIUE gave the home crowd something to get excited about in set two. The Cougars rallied from behind 20-15 to take the set 27-25. Shashack collected two service aces during the late run and served the Cougars to a set point.
Acting Head Coach Kendall Paulus watched as seniors Shashack, Scott, Joens, Witt, Emily Harrison and Carley Ramich played in their final match at the Vadalabene Center. The seniors did not disappoint.
The Cougars rolled in the third set after taking the first two, hitting .344 in the final set. SIUE hit .193 for the match.
EIU was led by 10 kills from Taylor Smith. The Panthers hit .062 as a team for the match.