SALEM, Va. — Averett University volleyball dropped its final two matches of the regular season, falling 3-1 to Virginia Wesleyan College and 3-2 to host Roanoke College in a pair of non-conference games on Saturday afternoon.
Averett (24-15) lost to regionally ranked Virginia Wesleyan (23-9) in four sets, falling 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-13. Freshman
Hannah Shields led the Cougars with 13 kills and 10 digs, while junior
Leslie Fulton added 10 kills and freshman
Sarah Smoot had nine kills. Freshman
Christiana Summa had a team-high 18 digs, while senior
Nicole Barringer finished with 39 assists and 14 digs. Juniors
Katelyn Holley and
Lindsey Boles added 12 digs and 10 digs, respectively.
Averett rallied to force Roanoke (21-8) to a fifth set, but the Cougars narrowly fell to the Maroons. Roanoke took the match 25-21, 21-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-13. Shields finished with another double-double of 19 kills and 21 digs. Smoot added 17 kills and freshman
Jessica Sheek had 11 kills. Boles led Averett with 23 digs, while Barringer added 21 digs and 55 assists. Holley tallied 15 digs and Summa had 13 digs.
The Cougars, who earned the No. 2 seed out of the North Division, will take on Piedmont College, the No. 3 seed out of the South Division, in Friday's USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals in Martinsville, Virginia.