DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University volleyball picked up a pair of conference sweeps as part of a USA South Conference trimatch hosted by the Cougars on Saturday at the Grant Center. Averett defeated N.C. Wesleyan College 3-0 and finished the day with a 3-0 victory over Methodist University.

In the opener against N.C. Wesleyan, Averett (10-10, 6-4 USA South) dominated from the start. The Cougars strolled to a 25-7 win in the first set. The Bishops gave the Cougars a battle in the second frame, but Averett prevailed 25-18 and then finished off N.C. Wesleyan easily 25-10 for the three-set sweep.

As a team, Averett hit .303 against N.C. Wesleyan (8-17, 3-8 USA South). Senior Keenan Marks led the Cougars with nine kills while hitting .474 with 13 assists and six digs. Sophomore Brooke Aaron also had a strong performance with eight kills, 15 digs and a .571 hitting percentage. Junior Madison Dadez added eight kills and sophomore McKenzie Miller finished with seven kills, three service aces and 12 assists. Senior Emily Stanley paced the Cougars with 16 digs.

Averett started slow against Methodist (11-7, 5-5 USA South) but held off the Monarchs in each set to win 25-22, 25-20 and 25-21.

Aaron totaled 10 kills and 19 digs to led Averett in both categories. Marks and junior Abby Taylor each had seven kills with Marks added 17 assists and 13 digs and Taylor totaling 17 digs and four blocks. Miller and Dadez chipped in six kills. Miller finished with 19 assists and eight digs, while Stanley had 13 digs.

The two wins gave longtime Averett head coach Danny Miller 599 career wins to put him one away from the 600-victory milestone. The Cougars will host Mary Baldwin University on Tuesday at 7 p.m.