DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's volleyball faced the WildCats of Randolph College for the first of three matches that took place in the E. Stuart James Grant Center on Wednesday. 

The WildCats (8-11, 3-4 ODAC) defeated the Cougars (2-15, 0-9 ODAC) with scores of 25-13, 25-20, 25-18. 

Sophomore Finn Oakley recorded nine kills for the Cougars' offense, while junior Kendrick Sasu-Twumasi trailed with six. Sophomore Shaun Freeman and junior Diego Giffuni each tied with 11. 

Freeman and Twumasi also earned a solo block a piece. 

Junior libero Anibal Lopez led the Cougars' defense with 17 digs. 

For an exciting last match of the day, the Cougars' faced Bethany College for a non-conference match, where they fell 3-2. 

Bethany (2-14, 0-6 PAC) defeated Averett in a thrilling four-set match with scores of 25-21, 25-13, 26-24, 29-27 and 15-10. 

The Cougars took an early lead in the first set with a score of 7-0. The Bison slowly crept back, before a kill from junior Nicholas Breen closed out the set for the Cougars' first victory. They carried their momentum with them into Sets 2 and 3, often trading leads with the Bison before ultimately losing each set. 

In an exciting fourth set, the Cougars kept the score within two points of the Bison. Averett found its back against the wall, staving off match point three times before finally having a chance to put the set away. Frenetic energy on defense and remarkable poise on offense set the Cougars up for a kill by freshman Liam Audrain to send the Cougars' unto a decisive fifth set. 

In the fifth and final set, the Cougars battled the Bison, in hopes to secure their third victory. An attack error on the Bison tied the two teams, before the Bison pulled away late. 

In the middle match, Randolph swept Bethany with scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-22.

The Cougars are back in action on Friday when they travel to Virginia Beach, Virginia for a conference match against Virginia Wesleyan University at 6 p.m.