CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Despite three SIUE volleyball players totaling double digit kills, the Cougars dropped a five-set decision to Austin Peay Saturday at the Winfield Dunn Center.

Austin Peay improved tov16-2 overall and 6-0 mark in league competition with a 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-9 win over the Cougars, which dropped to 4-14 overall and 3-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

"We had another tough defensive match today," said SIUE Head Coach Kendall Paulus. "We made some adjustments but couldn't sustain them."

McDonald sparked the Cougars with 13 kills and 14 digs.

Gabby Wimes and Hope Everett contributed double kill figures of their own with 12 each.

"I was happy to see Gabby, Hope and Rachel all hit double digit kills while also being efficient," noted Paulus.

Mallory Nicholson added a double-double of with 21 assists and 10 digs.

The Cougars finished the match with a .261 hitting percentage that included 58 kills.

Austin Peay, led by 21 kills from Jenna Panning pushed through the fourth and fifth sets, finishing the match with 71 kills and a .224 hitting percentage.

SIUE will wrap up the away portion of their schedule at Eastern Illinois next Wednesday.