RALEIGH, N.C. — Averett University volleyball lost a five-set heartbreaker as Meredith College rallied in the final frame to edge the Cougars 16-14 to win the conference match 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Meredith (14-3, 9-0 USA South) remained undefeated in league play by holding off Averett (8-10, 4-4 USA South) 25-19, 20-25, 21-25, 25-16, 16-14.
Averett was up 2-1 in the match before Meredith battled back to take Set 4, forcing a deciding fifth set. After a tight start in the fifth, Averett gave itself some distance to go ahead 9-5. Yet, the Avenging Angels scored five consecutive points to take a 10-9 lead.
The Cougars and Angels battled back and forth, tying the score every other point — including when Averett had set point at 14-13. Tied 14-14, Meredith won the final to points to escape.
Meredith took the opening set 25-19, but Averett used strong starts in the next two sets to jump in front of the Angels through three games. Meredith responded with a dominant fourth set to tie the match, 2-2.
Averett's attack was led by sophomore
Brooke Aaron's 17 kills and junior
Abby Taylor's 12 kills. Senior
Jordan Pitzer and sophomore
McKenzie Miller each had double-doubles. Pitzer finished with 10 kills and 14 digs, while Miller had 21 digs and 19 assists. Senior
Emily Stanley had a team-high 27 digs and senior
Keenan Marks had 19 assists. Junior
Madison Dadez and Taylor had four blocks and three blocks, respectively.
The Cougars host non-conference foe Washington and Lee University on Thursday at the Grant Center at 6 p.m. in a rescheduled match from earlier this season.
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