DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University volleyball team finished the first day of the 21st annual Cougar Classic with a 1-1 split on Saturday at the Grant Center.
 
Averett (3-1) opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Emory & Henry College, defeating the Wasps 25-15, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-23. The Cougars set the tone early in the first game as they took a 7-1 lead with key kills from sophomore outside hitters Hannah Shields and Sarah Smoot. It was smooth sailing throughout the rest of the first set, but Averett couldn't get a rhythm going in the following game. The squad struggled to keep the ball in bounds, allowing the Wasps to capitalize, however, the Cougars didn't struggle for too long.
 
After falling in the second set, sophomore middle hitter Jessica Sheek gave the Cougars a spark off the bench to take the advantage back. Once Sheek was on the floor, she nailed two blocks and smashed a kill to help Averett score six consecutive points and knot the game at 12-12. The team rallied from behind in both the third and fourth sets to win the match. Shields led the way with 23 digs and 19 kills while Smoot finished with 17 kills. Sophomore Christiana Summa added 20 digs for the Cougars, and sophomore Kristen Viegelmann ended with 42 assists in her first match and start of the season.
 
With a good start in the tournament, the second match proved to be more challenging for the squad. Shenandoah University swept Averett 3-0, but even with the defeat, the Cougars went down battling. Shenandoah (3-0) only beat Averett by four or less points in each set, finishing 25-22, 25-22 and 25-21.
 
In the first set, things were going Averett's way as the team pulled away 16-6 with Shenandoah's inability to find success on the offensive end, particularly since four of their first six points came from Averett errors, but a kill from Elizabeth Lamont fired up the Hornets. Shenandoah worked its way back in small runs, finding open spots on the floor all while slowing down Averett's scoring to win the first game, and the trend continued throughout the match as the Hornets handed the Cougars their first loss of the season.
 
Shields put up 10 kills as Sheek and senior middle hitter Leslie Fulton added six kills apiece. Sheek also finished with three blocks for Averett.
 
Averett returns to the court tomorrow for the final day of the tournament. The Cougars host Guilford College at 11:30 a.m. and Hollins University at 5:30 p.m.


 

Saturday 10 a.m. 12 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.	Main Court Randolph def. Hollins (25-23, 26-24, 25-21) Roanoke def. William Peace (25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-10) Averett def. Emory & Henry (25-15, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23) Roanoke def. Greensboro (25-19, 25-23, 25-22) Shenandoah def. Averett (25-22, 25-22, 25-21)	Side Court Emory & Henry def. Guilford (25-13, 25-16, 25-14) Shenandoah def. Greensboro (25-22, 25-16, 25-19) Randolph def. Guilford (25-23, 25-23, 25-18) William Peace def. Hollins (25-16, 25-16, 25-22)
Sunday 9:30 a.m. 11:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.	Main Court Shenandoah vs. Roanoke Live Stats Averett vs. Guilford Live Stats Roanoke vs. Emory & Henry Live Stats Guilford vs. William Peace Live Stats Averett vs. Hollins Live Stats	Side Court Emory & Henry vs. Greensboro William Peace vs. Randolph Hollins vs. Shenandoah Greensboro vs. Randolph