ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Averett University volleyball wrapped up the 2015 USA South Conference North Division crown with wins over William Peace University and N.C. Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon. Averett (25-9, 17-2) swept William Peace 3-0, then beat host N.C. Wesleyan 3-1.
Averett, the top seed in the North, will face William Peace, the No. 4 seed in the North, in Friday's USA South Tournament quarterfinals hosted Nov. 6-7 by Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
The two victories on Saturday helped Averett match its program record of 17 conference wins in a season. And the North Division championship gives the Cougars 15 regular season titles, including their second in the last three years.
"I'm very proud of how our team has shown resiliency," said Averett coach
Danny Miller, who is in his 21st season. "We are very young, but we have found ways to step up our play in close situations and make it count. Our only conference losses have been in five sets, and I like our chances next weekend."
Averett, which is ranked eighth in the region, sealed the North Division in its final match of the day by beating N.C. Wesleyan 22-25, 25-14, 25-23 and 25-21. Sophomore
Hannah Shields led the way with a double-double of 22 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore
Sarah Smoot added 14 kills, while senior
Leslie Fulton and freshman
Jordan Pitzer each had eight kills. Freshman
Keenan Marks had a team-high 17 digs and five service aces to go with 49 assists against the Bishops. Sophomore
Christiana Summa chipped in with 15 digs and seniors
Katelyn Holley and
Lindsey Boles had 12 digs and 11 digs, respectively.
In its first match of the day, Averett knocked off William Peace 25-17, 25-19 and 25-15. Shields had 15 kills and nine digs in that match, with Smoot totaling eight kills. Summa had a team-high 16 digs, Marks had 35 assists and Holley had five service aces and seven digs.
Averett finishes its regular season with a pair of non-conference matches Sunday against Virginia Wesleyan College and Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia.
