DELAND, Fla. – Hatter volleyball registered a dramatic ASUN Conference win over newcomer Austin Peay, 3-2, Friday night in the Edmunds Center. It was the first time the pair played as Conference members, with Stetson evening the all-time series at 1 win a piece.
 
"I think that both teams played well," head coach Yang Deng said "AP did a good job defending and digging. They have seniors and upperclassmen that play the game the way it is supposed to be played. We came out in the last set very strong. We played a bit up and down, but in the last set we came out with a lot of energy. [Alexis Thompson] came out really strong as one of the leaders that helped the team a lot. Elena [Djokovic]. Of course, with the younger players, this game was great experience for them. We talk about being aggressive and have the willingness and courage to go all out the way you know, and I think we did that."
 
The opening set was tight as neither team claimed more than a three-point advantage until the visitors pushed to a three-point win, 25-22. The set featured seven lead changes and 13 ties through the progression.
 
Stetson responded by taking a tight second set, 25-20. Similar to the first it was nearly as tight with the largest lead, prior to the conclusion, reaching five points. This set featured nine ties and six lead changes.
 
The Hatters maintained momentum through the third set, eventually claiming the go-ahead frame, 25-22. The game settled as the home team took the advantage at 14-13 and never relinquished it.
 
AP would not go away, as the Governors took momentum in the fourth battling to tie the match at 2 sets a piece. The visitors established control as they opened up with an 8-4 advantage. AP never looked back after the initial lead taking the set 25-19.
 
Alexis Thompson and the Hatters took early control of the fifth set and led wire-to-wire to a final score of 15-7. Thompson.
 
Three Hatters notched double-doubles: junior outside hitter Anabelle Standish [12 kills, 16 digs], sophomore setter Nyah Molina [39 assists, 14 digs] and senior outside hitter Elena Djokovic [13 kills, 10 digs]. Freshman defensive specialist Madilyn Jerald recorded a team-high 18 digs. The team recorded 14 blocks with freshman middle blocker Sophia Groom responsible for seven [3 solo, 4 assists].
 
"This is a really huge win for us," Jerald said following the victory "It shows us where we are placed right now and what we can do when we're consistent and fight. Coming out hard from the beginning [of the fifth set] was a really big improvement for us. The team came together in the fifth set, but Lexi [Alexis Thompson], I give so much credit to her. She leads the team and fixes everything. Sophie Groom killed it tonight too."
 
Stetson Volleyball faces another big challenge with Lipscomb coming to DeLand, to close out the weekend. The match is scheduled to start Sunday at noon.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.