FERRUM, Va. — Averett University volleyball held off William Peace University 3-2 in a five-set thriller, then cruised past N.C. Wesleyan College 3-0 for a pair of USA South Conference victories Saturday as part of a conference quad match hosted by Ferrum College.
With the two wins, Averett (15-7, 7-0 USA South) remains undefeated in conference play and atop the North Division standings. Yet, it didn't come easy in the opener against William Peace (11-6, 5-3 USA South).
The Pacers took the opening set 25-20, but the Cougars rallied back to win the next two sets 25-22 and 25-19. William Peace, however, tied it up at 2-2 by taking the fourth game 25-19 to set up the deciding fifth set.
In that fifth frame, Averett insted out to a 6-3 lead early, only to see the Pacers battle back to go in front 10-9. William Peace pushed its lead to 13-11, forcing the Cougars to take their second timeout. Averett regrouped to take the next three points — two of which came on kills by sophomore
Hannah Shields — and surge in front 14-13.
Averett and William Peace traded the next seven points before the Cougars put the Pacers away with sophomore
Jessica Sheek's kill and setting error by William Peace to win the final game 19-17.
Shields had a dominating performance of 31 kills to help her surpass the 1,000-kill mark for her young career. She achieved the milestone at approximately the same time her father, Bobby Shields, was one of four former Cougars being inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Danville.
Sophomore
Sarah Smoot added 16 kills and Sheek finished with eight kills. Seniors
Katelyn Holley and
Lindsey Boles added 19 digs and 11 digs, respectively, while freshman
Keenan Marks had 58 assists.
In their final match of the day, Averett rolled past N.C. Wesleyan (4-12, 1-8 USA South) by scores of 25-12, 25-17 and 25-13. Shields had a team-high 16 kills with seven digs. Boles and Holley each posted a team-best nine digs, with sophomore
Christiana Summa finishing with eight digs. Marks had 30 assists.
Averett, riding a seven-match winning streak, travels to division rival Meredith College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
