DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University volleyball took the opening two sets before falling 3-2 to Southern Virginia University in non-conference action to open the season at the Grant Center.
 
Southern Virginia (1-0) won 13-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-19 and 15-12.
 
Averett (0-1) looked dominant through the first two sets, breezing past the Knights once the Cougars got rolling midway through the first set. However, the momentum shifted in the third set as Southern Virginia pulled away to stay alive despite a late run by Averett to tie it as late as 19-19.

Southern Virginia inched ahead in Set 4 to force a deciding fifth set, where the Knights led 13-7 in the final game before Averett mounted a comeback to get within 13-11. However, Southern Virginia finished off the comeback to upend the Cougars.

Junior Sarah Shropshire finished with a team-high 15 kills while hitting .265 and also added 15 digs. Sophomore Lauren Montren and junior Zamyiah Mangum had 12 kills and 11 kills, respectively. Senior McKenzie Miller finished with 46 assists and seven digs for the Cougars, who also got 30 digs from freshman libero Erin Gray and 16 digs from Mangum.
 
Averett will face William Peace University on the road Thursday in a non-conference matchup.