DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University volleyball team sent lone senior
Nicole Barringer out as a winner in her final two home matches at the Grant Center on Friday. The Cougars swept N.C. Wesleyan College 3-0, then held off William Peace 3-1 to cap off a USA South Conference quad-match.
Averett (20-12, 14-4 USA South) eased past William Peace (12-19, 9-7 USA South) in the first two sets of the nightcap, winning 25-19 and 25-15. The two teams then paused for a short intermission as the Cougars honored Barringer with a senior night ceremony.
William Peace didn't go away easily, however, as the Pacers won the third set 25-22 to force a fourth frame. William Peace grabbed an early 10-7 lead, but Averett fought back to tie it at 9-9. The Cougars finally built some distance with three consecutive points go ahead 13-11, forcing the Pacers to take a timeout. Averett took control of the game from there, dominating William Peace by winning 12 of the next 16 points to seal the match 25-15.
Barringer has a solid performance in her final match on Averett's home court. She finished with 44 assists, eight kills and six digs against William Peace. Freshman
Hannah Shields added 18 kills and eight digs, while freshman
Sarah Smoot totaled 14 kills. Freshman
Christiana Summa and junior
Lindsey Boles led the team in digs with 17 and 14, respectively. Junior
Leslie Fulton tallied nine kills and freshman
Jessica Sheek had seven kills and three service aces for the Cougars.
Averett opened the day with a three-set victory against N.C. Wesleyan (6-19, 5-11 USA South). The Cougars won 25-20, 25-12, 25-14. Barringer had 40 assists and 11 digs in that match, while Shields led the team in kills with 15. Smoot and sophomore
Brittany Daley each had nine kills and Sheek finished with eight kills. Summa had a team-best 13 digs and Shields added 12 digs.
The two wins not only sent the Cougars out as winners in their final home date and kept them in contention for the USA South North Division crown, it also gave head coach
Danny Miller his 19th 20-win season of his 20-year coaching career.
William Peace edged Ferrum College 3-2 in the second match of the day, and N.C. Wesleyan beat Ferrum 3-1 in the third match of the quad.
Averett finishes USA South play on Wednesday at Greensboro College.
