LYNCHBURG, Va. — Averett University volleyball edged Lynchburg College in the fifth set to take down the Hornets 3-2 in a non-conference road test Wednesday night. The Cougars won 27-25, 27-29, 25-20, 18-25, 15-13.

Averett (3-2) led the match 2-1 before Lynchburg (1-4) forced a fifth set. The Hornets inched ahead 6-4 in the final frame, but the Cougars didn't flinch. Tied 10-10, Averet took three of the next four points to go up 13-11, forcing Lynchburg to call a timeout.

The Hornets took the next point to get within one, but Averett answered with a kill by freshman Zamyiah Mangum thanks to a blocking error, giving the Cougars match point. Lynchburg stayed alive, getting a kill by Sydney Frink on a long rally to make it 14-13. Yet, sophomore Brooke Aaron ended it with a kill off a set from senior Keenan Marks to give Averett the victory.

The play capped off a strong performance for Aaron, who had a double-double of 20 kills and 12 digs while finishing with a .326 hitting percentage. Senior Jordan Pitzer added a double-double of 16 kills and 10 digs for the Cougars. Senior Emily Stanley totaled 10 digs, Marks had 27 assists and sophomore McKenzie Miller had 21 assists and nine digs.

Averett avoided set point in Set 1. Down 24-22, the Cougars took advantage of two Lynchburg errors which allowed them to tie the game. Knotted at 25-25, two more Lynchburg attacking errors gave Averett the one-set lead.

The Cougars dominated the second set, racing out to a 21-14 advantage. Lynchburg, however, rallied to eventually tie it 24-24. Averett had set point before the Hornets stole it 29-27 to even the match.

Lynchburg lead 18-13 in Set 3 before Averett got hot and rattled off six consecutive points to take the lead. It was the start of a 12-2 run that allowed the Cougars to go ahead 2-1 overall. Lynchburg returned the favor in Set 4, finishing strong by winning eight of the final 11 points.

Averett returns to action on Friday in the Roanoke College Invitational.