Dream Season

APSU VOLLEYBALL WINS BIG

There aren’t enough words to describe the magic of Austin Peay State University’s 2017 season. Sure, it's been successful; Taylor Mott's squad became the first Austin Peay team to hang a trio of banners—regular season champions, tournament champions and the coveted banner for advancing to an NCAA tournament—since the 2012 baseball team.

But that doesn't quite cover everything.

Before losing to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Govs became the OVC's first 30-win team since 1995, shattering the program record for wins in a single season. Included among those were 14 conference victories—Austin Peay's most since 2010—and an early-season demolition of Missouri.

Put it another way—the Govs won 24 combined in 2014 and 2015, but they won 30 games this season. Many of the important players on this team—the magical, dominant, opponent-destroying Austin Peay juggernaut of 2017—were involved on each of those teams, so what a difference a few years can make.

“When you have so much changeover in coaches, it's hard to get kids and parents to buy into the dedication," Mott said. “Just being here and loving on our kids, and taking care of them makes a difference.”

The Govs went to another level in the OVC tournament, rallying back from one-set deficits in the semifinals and in the championship game. The last time that happened was 2010 —when the Govs did it to win their previous tournament title.

Add it all up and the Govs are in uncharted waters. Freshman Brooke Moore, who enjoyed an All-Newcomer season in her first APSU campaign, was named Tournament MVP. Prior to that Saturday, the last time a freshman was OVC Tournament MVP was…never. Other talented performers include Ashley Slay, the OVC Offensive Player of the Year, and Kristen Stucker, the Setter of the Year and the kind of scholar-athlete that comes along once in a generation.

Mott, the league's Coach of the Year, displayed the perfect touch and tone with this team, learning when to rein them in and when to let the Govs be themselves. She's the perfect coach, with the perfect cast, at the perfect time.

“I've been coaching a long time,” Mott said after earning her first conference tournament title as Austin Peay head coach. “I learned a long time ago that you have to let kids be themselves. You can't make them into something they're not. By allowing them to be who they are, they have a role and are comfortable with who they are, and it meshes really well for us. They have fun, and I don't ever want to crush that. This should be fun.”