Box Score BOX SCORE

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team snapped Austin Peay State University's 11-match winning streak, downing the Governors in four sets at the Winfield Dunn Center Saturday afternoon.
 
The Colonels won by scores of 25-21, 25-14, 24-26 and 25-20.
 
In the first set APSU quickly jumped out to a 7-1 lead. Then middle blocker Kaylin Johnson came up with a kill sparking a 6-1 Colonel run and moving the score to 8-7.  The squads were in an even heat, exchanging points and the lead until Kennedy Wilson notched a kill, followed by a Cassie Knutson service ace to move a 20-20 tie to a 22-20 EKU lead. A kill and service ace from senior Celina Sanks followed by a bad set from the Govs ended the set in favor of EKU, 25-21.
 
Both teams, again, took turns throwing punches to open up the second stanza. At the 9-9 mark an attack error from Austin Peay's Ashley Slay aided EKU in opening up a 9-1 run to pull ahead of the Govs 18-10. APSU would cut into the lead four more times, 20-14, but the deficit proved insurmountable. The Colonels rattled off five unanswered points to take the set and a 2-0 lead, 25-14.
 
EKU fell behind for much of the third frame but notched six in a row to take its largest lead of the set, 21-17. The Governors then responded with five unanswered points to even the score 23-23. A kill from Cecily Gable and block from Kaylee Taff and Gable spoiled the sweep for the Colonels, 26-24.
 
The squads went point-for-point down the stretch in set four. A commanding block from Lauren Kolenik and Clairissa Hankinson pushed EKU out in front, 19-15. The Govs made a final effort at the lead with a kill from Cecily to spark a 4-1 run, bringing APSU within one, 20-19. A service error from the Governors followed by another huge block from Knutson and Johnson and then two kills from the duo forced match point, 24-19. Nikki Drost put down the final ball, giving EKU the match, 25-20.
 
"Kaylin totally dominated," Head Coach Lori Duncan stated. "What I liked most about today was the people who stepped to the plate. Cassie and Maria did a great job setting the offense, being ever-present on knowing what to do and who to set. Our defense was what spoke for us most. A lot of balls that normally would have gone down we brought back up. We kicked them out of their system. That was a total team effort to get the job done and stay focus."
 
Johnson showed dominance, notching 11 kills, seven blocks and leading the Colonels in shutting down APSU's top offensive threat in Ashley Slay. Slay was named the National Player of the Week earlier in the season and is hitting .300 on the year. EKU held her to a .171 efficiency and forced seven errors.
 
Austin Peay had won 15 straight sets coming in to today's contest dating back to Sept. 23. The streak in-part due to solid .221 hitting percentage on the season. EKU held APSU to a .177 percentage and out-blocked the Govs 9-to-6. Eastern Kentucky hit an impressive .393 clip in set two and a .375 in the final set.  
 
Drost led all players in kills with 16, Sanks followed closely behind with 12 to compliment her 15 digs for another double-double on the season.  Knutson and Maria Ferragonio combined for 48-of-55 assists.
 
Junior libero Chloe Rojas led all players with 20 digs.
 
EKU moves to 7-13, 5-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference while Austin Peay falls to 17-3, 5-1 OVC. The squads are tied for the first place spot.
 
The Colonels return home next weekend to take on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Friday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. and Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.