APSU volleyball entered the Dunn Center with hopes of jumping ahead to first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a win over No. 1 conference seed Murray State. However, things did not goes as planned in the Battle of the Border as Murray State took the win 3-1, closing out their trip with a 25-17 fourth set.

The opening set saw three lead changes and 11 separate ties as the Lady Govs dropped a back and forth series 27-25.

APSU battled throughout the set led by four kills from junior Ashley Slay, who finished the night with 19 kills. The Lady Govs were able to force the set to 25-25, but Murray State fought out the set to a 27-25 win and a 1-0 lead on the night.

The second set of the match started out as a back and fourth battle before the Racers found a 24-16 lead.

A pair of kills from Logan Carger, both assisted by Kristen Strucker, and two attack errors by Murray State’s Audrey Lewis brought APSU back into the set 24-20. The Racers, however, won the set on the next rally behind a Hannah Stultz kill. Murray found themselves in a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Govs played their best in the third set totaling 38 kills and 60 digs. The attack was led by Slay and Carger who combined for 22 of the kills while Ginny Gerig, Allie O’Reilly, and Sammie Ebright combined for 43 digs. A strong charge in the middle of the set created a lead that Murray State couldn’t catch up to, and the Lady Govs avoided the sweep with a 25-21 win.

In the fourth set Murray State took over offensively and silenced the Lady Govs through 69 kills and 64 assists. The Racers had a strong start with a 6-2 lead aided by a five point run to win the set 25-17 and the game 3-1.

APSU (21-9, 12-3 OVC) drop to third in OVC standings. The Lady Govs will host Morehead State on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. from the Dunn Center.