The Averett University volleyball team hosts the USA South Conference Tournament championship Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Grant Center. East No. 1 seed Averett will battle East Division No. 2 seed Meredith College will face off for the conference title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Live statistics will be available and a live broadcast will be available on the Averett Sports Network.
Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for faculty, staff, students, senior citizens and children. The first 100 Averett students and first 50 faculty/staff members will get free admission with an Averett ID.
Here's a look at each of the final two teams:
Averett University
(26-9, 15-0 USA South)
SEASON AT A GLANCE: The East's top-seeded Cougars come into today's USA South Conference Tournament final riding a huge wave of momentum. Head coach
Danny Miller, in his 22nd year at the helms, led the Cougars to a perfect 15-0 mark in the regular season and its second consecutive regular season championship. Averett clinched Miller's 12th USA South regular season championship on Oct. 29 when the Cougars knocked off Meredith College 3-1 on Senior Day. Miller also earned his eighth career USA South Coach of the Year honor on Thursday.
HOW THEY GOT THERE: Averett knocked off the Eastern Division's No. 5 seed Ferrum College 3-1 in Tuesday's USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals, then held off West Division No. 2 seed Maryville College 3-2 in Friday's semifinals.
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS: Junior
Hannah Shields earned her second consecutive USA South Conference Player of the Year award. Shields was also voted to the USA South East Division First Team. Fellow junior
Sarah Smoot was also named to the East Division First Team along with sophomore
Keenan Marks. In her first year as a Cougar, freshman
Brianna Williams earned a spot on the East Division Second Team, and sophomore
Emily Stanley was named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team.
Meredith College
(24-3, 14-1 USA South)
SEASON AT A GLANCE: Meredith earned the East No. 2 seed by winning 14 out of its 15 conference games this season. The Avenging Angels only loss this season came last Saturday against Averett as the Cougars downed Meredith 3-1. Meredith has only lost four conference sets this season, losing sets to only Averett and Salem.
HOW THEY GOT THERE: Meredith knocked off the East No. 3 seed William Peace University 3-1 on Tuesday in the quarterfinals, then swept West No. 4 seed LaGrange College 3-0 in Friday's semifinals.
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS: Junior setter Hannah Blaylock and freshman outside hitter Caroline Corey each earned USA South First Team All-Conference selections. Blaylock and Corey were also named to the East Division First-Team. Junior middle blocker and outside hitter Alex Hafliger and senior outside hitter Karlie Long each picked up Second Team East Division nods as well. Senior defensive specialist and libero Keegan Lynch was named to the USA South All Sportsmanship Team.