STAUNTON, Va. — Averett University volleyball kept rolling as the Cougars downed Mary Baldwin University 3-0 in USA South Conference action on Thursday night. Averett (15-11, 12-1 USA South) won 26-24, 25-7 and 25-19 for its fifth consecutive overall win.

Mary Baldwin (1-27, 0-12 USA South) opened on a strong note as the Fighting Squirrels took a 15-11 advantage in the first set. Mary Baldwin extended that lead to 21-16 before Averett battled back to tie it, 24-24. Sophomore Sarah Shropshire and freshman Morgan Barnes combined for a block to give the Cougars' their first lead of the set, and Shropshire put the clinching kill down off a pass from freshman Meg Hopkins as Averett escaped with a 26-24 win to go up 1-0 in the match.

Averett dominated Set 2, crushing Mary Baldwin 25-7. The Squirrels rebounded to play a close third set. However, the Cougars pulled away late for a series sweep of Mary Baldwin.

Freshman Lauren Montren led Averett with a double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs while hitting .375 from the outside. Shropshire also had double-digit hills with 10. Sophomore Zamyiah Mangum had a team-high 21 digs for the Cougars, who also got 16 digs from junior Myka Patterson and 10 digs and 31 assists from Hopkins.

Averett returns home on Saturday for a conference tri-match with Pfeiffer University and William Peace University beginning at noon in the Grant Center.