The All State

Media Credit: Lois Jones Lady Gov freshman Kayla Grantham leaps for the spike against the UT-Martin Skyhawks. The Lady Govs swept the Skyhawks 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-23). [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Lois Jones The Lady Govs celebrate together after scoring against the UT-Martin Skyhawks. They improved to 12-6 overall. [Click to enlarge]

The Lady Govs volleyball team played two Ohio Valley Conference matches at home last weekend in the Dunn Center. After losing a close battle to the Murray Racers, 3-2, on Friday, Sept. 3, the Lady Govs bounced back with a 3-0 sweep of the UT-Martin Skyhawks on Saturday, Sept. 4.

The Lady Govs now move to fourth place in the OVC with a 4-2-conference record (12-6 overall). APSU Sports Information reported Lady Govs head coach Jenny Hazelwood is keeping her team focused on conference play.

"I keep telling our team that we can't take anyone for granted in conference play - we have to show up ready to give our best effort," Hazelwood said.

It appeared the Lady Govs were more than ready for the Racers in the first set. Jessica Mollman's first kill of the match gave the Lady Govs an early 11-6 lead. The Racers would not get any closer than four points the rest of the set. The Racers regained enough composure to tie the Lady Govs 22-22 in the second set. But back-to-back kills by Stephanie Champine helped the Lady Govs take the second set, 25-22.

Mollman led the Lady Govs with 18 kills. Champine executed an impressive 16 kills as well. Murray Racer Logan Su led all players with 19.

It was Su who sealed the victory for the Racers. After losing the third and fourth sets, the Lady Govs fought their way to a 16-16 tie in the final set. But they were unable to stop Su, who made two kills in a row to give the Racers the win, 18-16.

The Lady Govs took out their frustrations from Friday's loss on the Skyhawks Saturday afternoon. According to Sports Information, Hazelwood spoke about the Lady Govs' bounce-back against UT-Martin.

"I told the team that we had to learn from yesterday's loss. We came out ready to play and when we had a chance to finish the match we did so," Hazelwood said.

Champine matched her efforts against the Racers, leading the Lady Govs with 16 kills against the Skyhawks. Freshman Kayla Grantham added 13 kills with a team best .414 attack percentage.

After an initial 5-5 tie, the Lady Govs took control of the first set. The Skyhawks were within three points late in the set, 20-17, but attack errors let the Lady Govs win the set.

After winning the second set 25-16, the Lady Govs had trouble putting away the Skyhawks in the third set. The teams tied the score 17 times. In addition, 12 lead changes took place. Kirsten Distler made a kill for the Lady Govs that tied the game 20-20. After two straight Lady Gov points, Distler made a block to increase the lead 23-20.

Before the Lady Govs could put the game away, Skyhawk Breanne Carey made her 12th kill of the match (leading her team) and helped the Skyhawks fight their way back to a 24-23 score. But Distler put the game away and finished the sweep with her final kill.

The Lady Govs will play two OVC games on the road before returning home to the Dunn Center Friday, Oct. 17 to face Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels, the first of two meetings.

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