DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University volleyball earned a thrilling 3-1 non-conference victory over Bridgewater College on Friday night at the Grant Center. The Cougars won 29-27, 23-25, 25-12, 25-23.

Averett (12-2) and Bridgewater (11-3) nearly matched each other point fot point for most of the first set before the Eagles pulled ahead 21-17. Following an Averett timeout, the Cougars won four of the next five points to tie the game, 22-22. With Averett facing set point, senior Sarah Smoot smashed one of her 13 kills to extend the set into extra points. Averett staved off set point two more times to tie it again, 27-27 before sophomore Brianna Williams sealed it at serve. Bridgewater was out of rotation to give the Cougars set point, and Williams came through with an ace to give Averett an electrifying 29-27 advantage.

After picking up the win in the opening set, Averett got off to a slow start in the second game and fell behind 4-0. The Cougars played catch-up for most of the frame before tying it at 18-18. Bridgewater answered with three consecutive points before eventually taking a 24-20 lead. Averett nearly battled back to again force extra points, getting within 24-23 before Bridgewater got the kill to tie the match at 1-1.

Averett opened the third set with a sense of urgency and jumped out to a 16-8 lead before easing to a 13-point win to go ahead 2-1 overall. Set 4 appeared to be a copy of the third game, but Bridgewater made it interesting. Although the Cougars led 11-5 early, Bridgewater came out focused following a timeout and rallied for a 15-13 advantage. Close the rest of the way, Averett finally put the Eagles away on senior Hannah Shields' service ace.

Shields finished with a double-double of 18 kills and 21 digs — both team highs. In addition to her 13 kills, Smoot added nine digs. Williams finished with 10 kills while hitting .364 for the match and junior Emily Stanley finished with 14 digs. Junior Keenan Marks and freshman McKenzie Miller had 27 assists and 23 assists, respectively.

The Cougars return to action on the road Saturday at a conference tri-match in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Averett takes on host Methodist University at noon, followed by William Peace University at 2 p.m.