GREENSBORO, N.C. — Two former Averett University student-athletes were inducted into the USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on Sunday during a ceremony held at Greensboro College. Averett women's volleyball Hall of Famer Hannah Shields Contreras '18 was inducted as part of the USA South's 2024 class and Averett softball Hall of Famer Jessica Long Carter '17 was inducted as part of the USA South's 2025 class in a joint celebration that saw nine student-athletes and coaches earn recognition.

Contreras and Carter give Averett 11 members of the USA South Hall of Fame, which began in 2010.

"I think that speaks a lot to the depth of Averett and their work with their student athletes," Contreras said. "It really is amazing to be here today as a Cougar."

Contreras had a four-year record-setting career with the Averett women's volleyball program from 2014-2017. The four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America selection earned Second Team honors in 2016 and Third Team in 2017 after receiving Honorable Mention notation her first two seasons. A four-time AVCA All-Region selection and 2014 AVCA Region Freshman of the Year, Contreras was selected as the 2014 USA South Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year was named the USA South Player of the Year in each of her final three seasons as well as earning a spot on the USA South All-Tournament Team three times. Other accolades include being a two-time Virginia Sports Information Directors State Player of the Year (2016 and 2017), the 2014 VaSID Rookie of the Year and a four-time VaSID All-State First Team selection. Contreras' name is etched in the USA South and Averett record books while helping the Cougars win three regular season conference titles. She owns the USA South's career record for kills (2,542) and kills per set (4.77), the league's single-match, season and career records for attempts and the conference mark for career sets played. In addition to owning Averett's kills mark, she finished fifth all-time in digs (1,603). She finished with 3.01 digs per set with 119 career blocks and 232 service aces in 533 sets over 147 matches. Off the court, Contreras was also successful.

The native of Keeling, Virginia, earned Academic All-America Second Team honors from the College Sports Communicators in 2017 and was a two-time academic all-district honoree in 2015 and 2017. She also earned VaSID Academic All-State honors three times and USA South Academic All-Conference all four years. Her other honors include being a two-time recipient of Averett's Barbara Kushubar Female Student-Athlete of the Year award in addition to numerous USA South Player of the Week honors throughout her four seasons.

Contreras was inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 14, 2023. Read more about her career in her 2023 Averett Hall of Fame feature story.

"It is a huge honor," Contreras said of her latest accolade. "I'm very honored to be inducted with this class of athletes, especially with Jessica. She was an incredible athlete, and I was lucky to play alongside her while we were at Averett together. It was a great honor to hear every inductee's story today, reflecting on all of their years and my years during the USA South Conference. It was amazing."
 
Carter was a four-year standout on the softball team from 2014-2017 and was a three-time NFCA All-America selection while leading the Cougars to two NCAA Regional appearances, one USA South Conference Tournament championships and one regular season title. In 170 career games, she batted .444 with 255 hits — including 44 doubles, 19 triples and 19 home runs — with 119 RBIs, 201 runs scored and 129 stolen bases. She holds the program career records for highest batting average, hits and runs scored (also both USA South records), and she is second all-time in steals. One of 10 finalists for the NFCA National Player of the Year, she earned NFCA All-Region honors all four years, was named the USA South Conference Player of the Year twice, earned all-conference all four seasons and was named to the all-state team four times and was named the Virginia Sports Information Directors Rookie of the Year in 2014. She also earned was named Averett's Barbara Kushubar Female Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. Off the field, the native of Prospect Hill, N.C., was an Academic All-America selection, the USA South's Don Scalf Award recipient and Woman of the Year in 2017 among other academic accolades.

Carter was inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 19, 2024. Read more about her career in her 2024 Averett Hall of Fame feature story.

"The only word I can think of right now that comes to my head is grateful," Carter said. "I'm grateful for this honor. It is not something that I expected whatsoever, but I obviously have to thank my teammates, my coaches and my family that's helped me get to this point in my life. Without them, this would not have happened."