After suffering a three-game loss to Southeast Missouri State Saturday, UT Martin volleyball coach Chris Rushing told his team he wanted it to control its own destiny.

The only way for the Skyhawks to maintain control of the Ohio Valley Conference race and successfully defend its league championship title is to win the rest of their games. One more loss and the Skyhawks quest for a championship hinges on what others do.

Austin Peay threatened interference, but the Skyhawks salvaged a 3-2 win last night (Tuesday, Oct. 22) in Skyhawk Fieldhouse.

With the victory, the Skyhawks improved to 10-1 in the OVC and 15-5 overall. Austin Peay fell to 3-7 in the league and 7-15 overall.

The Skyhawks won game one 30-12, but lost game two 28-30. The Skyhawks won game three 30-17, but dropped game four 31-29 despite leading several times. The Skyhawks claimed the match with a 15-11 win in game five.

In game one, the Skyhawks opened a 3-0 lead and jumped out to an 11-3 advantage. Austin Peay called time out twice in the game, but never threatened as the Skyhawks rolled to a 30-12 victory.

The Skyhawks turned in a .419 hitting percentage in game one, while Austin Peay was held in check with a .071 hitting percentage. Senior Natalie Klevan led the Skyhawks’ effort with five kills in the game.

The Skyhawks trailed 10-5 in game two, but recovered nicely. Back-to-back kills by senior Rachel Ahlers tied the game at 11-11 for the Skyhawks. After forging ahead by three, Austin Peay fought back and tied the game at 16-16.

The game seesawed back and forth before Austin Peay managed to build a two-point lead and claim a 30-27 victory.

The Skyhawks managed to hit .105 in the second game and still bettered Austin Peay’s .098 percentage.

“I think we played so well in game one that we thought it was over and then we lose in game two,” Rushing said. “That gave us a wake-up call.”

After several costly mistakes in the third game, the Skyhawks regrouped and opened a 25-14 lead. With vengeance in their eyes and plenty of fire in their attack, the Skyhawks claimed a 30-17 win.

Austin Peay’s hitting percentage plummeted to .017 in the third game, while the Skyhawks turned in a .264 hitting mark.

“In game three it was tied at 13-13 and I called time out,” Rushing said. “We go on a 17 2 run and win the game.” Sophomore Leigh Reiniche sparked a Skyhawk rally midway in game four with her jump serve, but it wasn’t enough. The Skyhawks built a 22-19 lead, but Austin Peay battled back and claimed a 31-29 victory.

“In game four, Austin Peay started making some nice plays and believing they could win,” Rushing said. “They put it in our minds that they could win.”

The Skyhawks raced to a 3-0 lead in game five and forced Austin Peay to call a quick timeout. Austin Peay regrouped and cut the lead to 3-2, but the Skyhawks earned the point and went up 6-3. The Skyhawks felt the Lady Govs pressure in the final game, but prevailed 15-11.

“I was nervous all the way to the match point in game five,” Rushing said. “I told the girls before the match started that any team in our conference can beat us on a given night. We better beware because I think we take a lot of teams lightly. We took Austin Peay lightly.”

The Skyhawks return to action Friday, Oct. 25 when they host Murray State (6-10, 5-5) in OVC play. Action gets under way at 7 p.m. in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse. Admis-sion is free.

The Skyhawks are still ranked number one in the OVC for the seventh week in a row. The team is now only one game ahead of Morehead State, which they defeated earlier this season.