Murray State dropped to 0-3 in the OVC, after the Austin Peay State University Governors stopped the Racers from clenching their first conference win this season.
The Governors needed four sets to win 22-25, 22-25, 25-21 and 15-25. It was the first rematch of last year’s OVC championship match. In the first set, both teams started the match by exchanging points. The momentum swayed back and forth with the largest lead only ballooning to three points.
Halfway through the first set, the score stood tied at 15, until Austin Peay secured the first set 25-22.
To open the second set, Racer freshman middle-blocker Kolby McClelland seized a service error and put her team in front 2-1. However, the Governors continued to use their home-court advantage to tie the match 9-9.
Following the tie, Austin Peay reeled off a 6-0 scoring run to take charge of the second set. Despite encountering resistance from Murray State, the Governors won the second set the same as the first set 25-22.
Similar to the previous two matches, the Racers needed to force a fifth set to win on the road and break their four-game losing streak. Murray State trailed 11-6 early in the second set, but quickly responded with a 9-3 scoring run to take the lead 15-14.
The Governors tried to retaliate but failed to recover after giving up their early lead. Murray State won the third set 25-21.
Austin Peay answered the Racers’ run by taking control with an 8-4 scoring run to open the last set. The Governors never trailed after taking the lead in the fourth set, winning 25-15. Murray State scored eight kills, but committed eight errors as well in the fourth set.
Racer senior outside hitter Dacia Brown led all players in kills earning 18 for the match, while junior outside hitter Rachel Giustino claimed her third double-double in a row with 16 kills and 10 digs.
Racer sophomore middle-blocker Ashley McBee dished 28 assists and grabbed 11 digs, while libero Becca Fernandez led her team with 28 digs.
Murray State (6-9) (0-3) comes home for its next three matches. Its home opener will be against the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Racer Arena.
