CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Kelsey Augustine turned in SIUE's top offensive performance of the season Saturday as the Cougars came from one set down to defeat Ohio Valley Conference rival Austin Peay in five sets.

Augustine collected 18 kills and finished with just two attack errors for a stellar .552 hitting percentage as SIUE won the match 19-25, 27-25, 14-25, 25-23, 15-10 over the Governors. SIUE, which won its first road OVC match of the season, improved to 7-8 overall and 2-3 in league play. Austin Peay dropped to 2-13 overall and 0-4 in the OVC.

It was the third straight five-set match for the Cougars. This time, SIUE came out on top with a team effort and some help from off the bench.

Chelsi Hummert, who picked up the kill on match point, was a key server in the fifth set as she helped the Cougars take an early 9-2 lead in the fifth set.

"After the fourth set," said SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson, "I wanted Chelsi to serve. She is the player in practice who puts pressure on our serve receive. She executed well and with confidence."

Hummert grabbed the ball with a 4-2 lead and benefitted from four attack errors by the Governors and tossed in a service ace.

SIUE and Austin Peay split the first two sets. Augustine had 11 kills after just two sets and opened up other offensive avenues once Augustine was being double-teamed. Johnson credited setter Sammi Minton with making adjustments in transition.

"We just realized that our other attackers were one on one and one on none," said Johnson.

The third set became a struggle as Austin Peay picked up eight kills from Ilyanna Hernandez, who led all hitters with 25 kills. The Cougars were behind by double digits in the set but found inspiration off the bench. Lexi Cibulka joined Jessica Hemann for a block late in the set, and Cibulka added her first solo block of the season.

Cibulka's blocks helped slow but not stop Hernandez. Johnson said Cibulka's plays helped the team's confidence. "Our team really felt that energy," said Johnson.

The Cougars used five kills from Augustine and three from Cibulka in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth set. "We were just playing good volleyball at that point," said Johnson.

SIUE rallied around the fourth set comeback. "They were excited but didn't lose their composure," Johnson added.

Austin Peay struggled in the fifth set with a negative hitting percentage at -.235. The Governors finished with seven attack errors in the set and had just four kills. The Cougars picked up five kills in the set plus a key service ace from Hummert.

SIUE will finish off its four-match road swing Tuesday. The Cougars travel to Carbondale for their final non-conference matchup of the season against the Salukis of SIU Carbondale. The first serve is set for 7 p.m.

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