FINAL STATS

JACKSONVILLE – Three Gamecocks had double figures kills and four had 12 or more digs on Friday night, when the Jacksonville State volleyball team handed Austin Peay a 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 25-12, 28-26) defeat at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Sophomore Jen Meyer hit .435 on 23 attacks for her 12 kills, while senior Stephanie Koontz led all players with 16 kills on a .314 attack percentage to pace the Gamecocks (5-10, 3-2 Ohio Valley Conference) offense. Junior Hivya Leite added 10 kills and grabbed 14 digs for her third double-double in the last five matches.

Making her first career start in place of the injured Liza Senenkova, freshman Nicole Merget hit .333 with nine kills and six of JSU's 10 blocks against the Lady Govs (2-14, 0-5 OVC).

“This was a huge win for us, given the fact that we were missing a huge part of our offense in Liza tonight,” JSU head coach Joseph Goodson said. “The fact that we were able to overcome her injury and compete the way we did is really exciting. Nicole really stepped up for us tonight in her first start and the most time she's seen on the floor in her career. “

Leite teamed up with sophomore Kelly Cole, who had a match-high 20 digs, and senior Lauren Harkins, who pitched in 13 on the back row. Sophomore Abbey Heredia had 12 digs, while freshman Alina Agamy added eight to go along with 33 assists and nine kills. Agamy, a freshman from Bloomington, Ill., hit .400 and also got a hand on two blocks to set up a JSU attack that hit .253 on the night.

“The thing for us tonight was good ball control and defense,” Goodson added. “Our passing was spot on, so we were always in system and that really stepped up our offense.”

Heredia, a native of Cary, Ill., also notched a double-double for the Gamecocks in the win. Splitting time with Agamy at the setter position, she dished out 18 assists to go along with her 12 digs. Harkins added seven kills.

The JSU front row was a big factor, even in the absence of Senenkova, who sat out with an ankle injury she suffered in practice this week. The Gamecocks tied their season high with 10 blocks, and their attack percentage was the third-highest of the season.

The Lady Govs got 13 kills and 11 digs from Nikki Doyle, while Cami Fields recorded 42 assists.

JSU will wrap up its brief two-match homestand on Saturday, when the Gamecocks host Tennessee State at 2 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Admission is free.