DANVILLE, Va. — Ninth-ranked Christopher Newport University defeated Averett University volleyball 3-0 on Friday night, but the young Cougars challenged the nationally ranked Captains in all three sets at the Grant Center. CNU held off Averett 25-21, 25-19 and 28-26.

Averett (8-8), which led 3-0 in the first set, stayed on Christopher Newport's heels after the Captains (16-1) inched ahead. Down 21-17, Averett rattled off three consecutive points to close the gap to 21-20, but CNU held off the Cougars over the final three points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The former conference rivals went toe-to-toe in the second set as well. Tied 12-12, CNU grabbed the momentum to go up 17-13 before putting. That distance helped the Captains stay in front, and the Captains took the last three points to win 25-19.

Christopher Newport led 17-11 in the third set, but Averett fought back to tie it at 17-17 with freshman Hannah Shields serving. The Cougars took advantage of several CNU miscues while getting a pair of service aces and a kill from freshman Sarah Smoot. As the two teams traded points down the stretch, Averett twice had set point. Yet, inopportune service errors kept the Captains in it. CNU knotted the set at 26-26, then got the final two points to clinch the match.

Smoot led Averett with 10 kills, while Shields added nine kills and five digs. Senior Nicole Barringer added 25 assists while junior Leslie Fulton had two solo blocks and two block assists for the Cougars.

Averett returns to action on Saturday with a pair of USA South Conference matches in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The Cougars take on William Peace University, then face host N.C. Wesleyan College.