BOX SCORE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Despite a gutsy comeback attempt, Morehead State volleyball dropped its Ohio Valley Conference opener 3-2 at Austin Peay Friday night. 

MSU slipped to 4-8 overall on the season, while APSU halted a three-match losing skid to the Eagles and moved to 7-6. The Eagles saw the home team's net defense turned back 12 attempts, including four in the final set.

The Eagles faltered to a 2-0 deficit as the Govs won 25-19 and 25-23, but MSU rallied with 25-21 and 27-25 victories to take it to a deciding set. MSU had 20 kills alone and hit .304 in the fourth frame. The Govs pulled away to win 15-8 in the finale.

Graduate student Olivia Lohmeier set a career-high for attempts with 76 while slamming down a match-high 25 kills, her fourth 20+ kill output of 2021. Lohmeier moved to within 60 kills of edging into second place in career spikes at Morehead State.

Of MSU's 67 total terminations, sophomore Abby Hulsman added 12 while junior Mia Swearingen boomed a season-best 12 while hitting at a team-best .333 clip.

MSU also had more digs than the Govs, 82-73. Junior Allison Whitten had 29 scoop-ups from the back row while junior Olivia Montelisciani had 14. The match also marked the return of setter Bridget Bessler after a four-match injury hiatus. She returned with her fourth double-double of the fall (35 assists, 11 digs). 

Morehead State had its second highest total attempts of the season with 180, hitting .206 as a unit. 

The teams will face off again Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.