DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University volleyball held off Bob Jones University 3-2 in five sets, but lost its final match of the 28th annual Cougar Classic with a 3-1 loss to William Peace University on Saturday at the Grant Center.
To open the morning, Averett (3-1) lost the opening set 25-23 to Bob Jones (1-3) before bouncing back to win 25-22 and 25-20 over the next two frames. The Bruins battled back to win Set 4 by a 25-22 score, forcing a deciding fifth set. The Cougars, however, opened the fifth set on a strong note before finishing off the Bruins 15-8.
Junior
Sarah Marlowe totaled a team-high 15 kills, while junior
Emma Nash added 14 kills. Senior
Morgan Barnes finished with seven kills, three aces and four blocks. Averett also got four blocks from freshmen
Emily Austin and
Carli Love. Sophomore
Carlie Deason led the team with 22 digs with junior
Erin Gray making 19 digs. Nash also had 11 digs for the Cougars, who got 26 assists from freshman
Dayton Moore and 20 assists from sophomore
Kinsley Stevens.
In the final match of the day, Averett edged former conference rival William Peace 26-24 and looked poised to go up 2-0 in the match after leading late in Set 2. William Peace (4-0) fought back to steal the second set 25-24, then won the next two sets.
Marlowe had team-best 13 kills, with Barnes making 11 kills. Stevens led the team with 19 assists and Gray had 13 digs.
Averett travels to Berry College's tournament next week.
