DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University volleyball held on for a thrilling five-set victory over conference foe Washington and Lee University on Tuesday night in the Grant Center. The Cougars won 3-2, handing the Generals their first ODAC loss of the season.
Averett (10-7, 5-2 ODAC) won 25-23, 16-25, 25-21, 20-25 and 15-11 to end the Generals' 33-match conference win streak dating back several seasons.
Tied 2-2 after Washington and Lee (8-8, 5-1 ODAC) forced a deciding fifth set, Averett grabbed a 6-3 advantage early. That lead crept out to 10-6, leading to a timeout by the Generals. Washington and Lee stayed within striking distance, getting back within 12-11. However, after an Averett timeout, the Cougars put all niceties aside as senior
Morgan Barnes got a big kill and Averett got to match point seconds later on a Washington and Lee attack error. Barnes and senior
Jessica Beam sealed the match moments later with a block for the win as the Cougars celebrated a key conference victory.
Averett took the opening set with the help of a seven-point run midway through the frame. Still, the Cougars had to withstand a late push from the Generals, who got within 24-23. Freshman
Rachel Green got the kill to put Averett ahead 1-0 in the match.
After Washington and Lee rebounded with a dominating second set, Averett responded as well in the third. The Cougars raced out to a 12-5 advantage, only to see the Generals rally to tie it, 13-13. Up 21-20, Averett took the final four points to win Set 3 and go ahead 2-1.
The Cougars couldn't quite put away Washington and Lee in four. Although Averett led 17-16, the Generals finished the set on a strong note and took it 25-20 to knot the match, 2-2.
Junior
Sarah Marlowe led the Averett attack with a team-high 18 kills. Green added a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs and junior
Emma Nash finished with nine kills and 14 digs. Junior
Erin Gray totaled a team-high 25 digs and Barnes finished with seven kills and seven total blocks. Averett, minus its starting setter, got 30 assists from freshman
Dayton Moore and 20 assists from freshman
Brenda Light.
Averett hosts Guilford College in another conference tilt on Friday at 7:30 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend.
