ROME Ga. — Averett University Athletics Hall of Famer Jessica Long Carter '17 was selected as one of four inductees into the USA South Athletic Conference's Hall of Fame Class of 2025, which was announced Thursday. Carter  was a four-year standout on the Averett softball team from 2014-17.

Carter joins former Christopher Newport University women's cross country standout Aimee Gibbs, former Methodist University football standout Dr. Quincy Malloy and former CNU men's soccer head coach Steve Shaw in this year's USA South Hall of Fame class. The USA South will induct the 2025 class along with the 2024 class during a ceremony in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 3. The 2024 class also included former Averett women's volleyball standout Hannah Shields Contreras '18.

"This is something I never would have dreamed of receiving," Carter said. "I remember being a freshman at Averett and my only thoughts were that I wanted to be good enough to start on the team and good enough to make a difference. It is a true honor to even be considered for this award and I will forever be grateful. Thank you to Averett University and to USA South for the ability to join this year's Hall of Fame class."

Carter was a four-year member of the Averett softball team from 2014-2017 and was a two-time USA South Player of the Year while also being named Rookie of the Year in her first season. Carter was a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American and a four-time NFCA All-Region performer. A four-time first team All-Conference honoree, Carter helped Averett to two NCAA Tournament appearances, one USA South Tournament title and one league regular season championship. In 2017, Carter was named the USA South's Female Don Scalf Award Winner and Rita Wiggs Women of the Year honoree, the highest honors a student-athlete can receive in the Conference. The native of Prospect Hill, North Carolina, is the current USA South career record holder for runs scored (201), hits (255), triples (tied with 19), and total bases (394). She holds each of those career marks at Averett while also adding the record for career batting average (.444). Additionally in 2017, Carter was named Averett's Barbara Kushubar Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Carter was inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 2024 class.

Carter is the 11th Cougar to earn a selection into the USA South Hall of Fame since it began in 2010. She joins Contreras, Kelly Gregory, Amy Cross, Courtney Coward Phillips, Lynn Haden-Smith, Pekka Kaartinen, Danny Miller, Janne Mommo, Vesa Hiltunen and Brenda LaFlamme Taylor.