WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Averett University volleyball split a conference tri-match on Saturday hosted at Salem College. The Cougars lost a tough 3-2 five-set match against William Peace University but followed that with a 3-0 sweep of Salem.
 
Averett (20-7, 10-5 USA South) ended the day by beating Salem (0-19, 0-13 USA South) 25-12, 25-17 and 25-22. The Cougars hit .327 as a team in the three-set win over the Spirits. Sophomore Emma Nash led the Cougars with 13 kills, while sophomore Sarah Marlowe had eight kills and four blocks. Freshman Julianna Erickson added seven kills and four blocks for Averett, which also got 12 digs from sophomore Erin Gray, 21 assists and 10 digs by sophomore Makkenzie Compton and 23 assists by freshman Kinsley Stevens.
To open the day, Averett jumped on William Peace (17-10, 12-2 USA South) to win the first two sets 26-24 and 25-21. However, the Pacers battled back to win the next two sets 25-20 and 25-21 to force a fifth set. In that deciding frame, the Pacers edged Averett 15-13.
 
Senior Sarah Shropshire led the Cougars with 16 kills, with senior Zamyiah Mangum and junior Morgan Barnes had 14 kills. Junior Lauren Montren added 12 kills and 22 digs. Gray had a team-high 25 digs, and Stevens had 36 assists and 13 digs.

Averett turns its attention to Greensboro College at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Grant Center.