RALEIGH, N.C. — Head coach Danny Miller notched win No. 650 as Averett University split a USA South Conference tri-match Friday afternoon hosted at Meredith College. The Cougars lost a tough five-set match 3-2 before sweeping N.C. Wesleyan College 3-0 to give Miller his latest milestone win.

Averett (13-5, 5-3 USA South) put away N.C. Wesleyan (13-6, 4-3 USA South) by scores of 25-25, 25-17 and 25-17 to finish off the day. The Cougars hit .359 as a team.

Junior Lauren Montren had a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs to lead Averett against the Battling Bishops. Senior Sarah Shropshire had nine kills and junior Jessica Beam had seven kills. Freshman Kinsley Stevens and sophomore Makkenzie Compton had 19 assists and 13 assists, respectively, and sophomore Erin Gray had eight digs.

In the opener, Meredith jumped on Averett early on its way to a 25-16 win in the opening set. The Cougars, however, found momentum in the second set. Down 12-8, Averett got a side out and Gray rattled off seven consecutive points from serve to push the Cougars in front 16-12. Averett finished off the Avenging Angels 25-19 to knot the match, 1-1.

Gray had another momentum-shifting turn serving midway through the third set. With Meredith leading 18-13, Averett gained serve and Gray helped the Cougars go ahead 20-18. Averett then held off Meredith 26-24 in a tight set to go up 2-1. Yet, the Cougars couldn't finish off Meredith in Set 4 as the Angels won 25-19 to set up a deciding fifth set, which Meredith took 15-9.

Montren led Averett with 17 kills, nine digs and three service aces against Meredith. Junior Morgan Barnes added 10 kills, senior Zamyiah Mangum had nine kills and Shropshire finished with eight kills. Gray led the team with 11 digs and three service aces.

Averett returns to action on Tuesday at home against Salem College at 7 p.m. in a rescheduled game from Oct. 1.