SALEM, Va. — Averett University men's volleyball traveled to Salem, Virginia on Saturday for a conference match against Roanoke College and a non-conference match against Carolina University. 

The Cougars (2-21, 0-12 ODAC) dropped the first match, falling in straight sets to the Maroons (20-9, 7-3 ODAC) with scores of 25-15, 25-9, and 25-13. 

Junior Kendrick Sasu-Twumasi led the Cougars offense with six kills. Junior Diego Giffuni orchestrated seven assists, while fellow setter sophomore Shaun Freeman trailed with six. 

Senior Anibal Lopez held off the Maroons offense with eight digs for the Cougars' defense.

To wrap up the road trip, Averett faced Carolina for their final match of the 2025 season. The Cougars were able to gain momentum going into the second match, before falling 3-1 to the Bruins (4-13, 0-6 AAC). 

Carolina was able to take Sets 1 and 2 before Averett came back to claim Set 3 as their own. 

The Cougars stayed neck and neck with the Bruins throughout Set 3, before the Bruins closed out the match. 

Freshman Yerai Collazo recorded eight kills, while sophomore Dominick Jenkins had seven and freshman Liam Audrain stayed close behind with six. Freeman added three more assists for the Cougars' offense. 

On defense, Lopez set yet another season-high with 21 digs.