SOUTHEAST SPIKERS SUFFER UPSET LOSS TO AUSTIN PEAY IN OVC OPENER

CLARKSVILLE -- They may have been the pre-season favorites, but the Southeast Missouri volleyball team was upset by Austin-Peay State University Friday evening in a four-game marathon: 17-5, 10-15, 15-11 and 15-8.

The Otahkians were picked to finish first in the Ohio Valley Conference by the coaches, while the Lady Govs were selected fifth.

The marathon, a two hour and 18 minute match, began with a 47-minute first game and went to 17-15. The turning point in game one came with SEMO leading 15-14 when, after seven side-outs, Kim Smith recorded two kills to bring the game to 16-15 Austin Peay.

An attack error by Krista Haukap handed the first game to the Lady Govs. In the game, Kim Smith recorded eight kills and went errorless on attack to record a .444 attack percentage.

In the second game, Southeast raced out to a 7-3 lead and expanded that lead to 13-7 before Casey Kelly put together a pair of service aces to threaten at 13-9. The teams exchanged the last three points with Southeast gaining the last point and the game at 15-10.

Games three and four were dominated by long scoring streaks by the Lady Govs. In the third game, the score stood at 8-5 (Southeast Missouri) before Karen Jolly served for seven consecutive points including two service aces. Austin Peay went on to win the third game, 15-11. In the deciding game, Southeast Missouri again raced out to a quick lead, but Austin Peay fought back to level the score at five all. Once again, Karen Jolly served for seven consecutive points to put the game out of reach at 12-5. The Lady Govs cruised after that rally to win 15-8.

Austin Peay was led by Jenny Wenning and Kim Smith who each recorded 20 kills. Smith was able to piece together a better attack percentage, a team-high .294. Wenning recorded a .255 attack percentage and recorded 17 digs. Also noteworthy for the Lady Govs was Annie Glieber, who had a team-high 21 digs and 68 assists. Austin Peay ended with 82 kills and a .214 attack percentage along with 99 digs, one short of the season high set Tuesday against Murray State.

SEMO's Krista Haukap put down a match-high 33 kills at a .304 attack percentage to lead the Otahkians. She was also able to get 23 digs on the night. Chipping in with Haukap was Lea Beckemeyer who recorded 20 kills, 19 digs and three blocks on the night. Southeast Missouri finished the night with 91 kills and a .226 attack percentage and 116 digs. However, the Otahkians committed 12 reception errors on the night leading to the defeat.

Austin Peay moves to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in Ohio Valley Conference action. Southeast drops to 7-5 overall and 0-1 in league play.