DANVILLE, Va. – Averett University battled close with visiting Shenandoah University on Friday night at the Grant Center, but the visiting Hornets prevailed in four sets to down the Cougars.
Averett (1-7, 1-2 ODAC) fell behind early in the first as far as 9-5, but a trio of kills thereafter got the Cougars back in reach. An 8-3 run from Shenandoah (5-5, 1-2 ODAC) went on an 8-3 run to go up 18-2, an advantage the Hornets did not surrender to put a tally on the set board.
Shenandoah then took a two-set lead, following a second period in which the visitors tallied 13 kills and a team-wise .32 killing percentage.
The third period was all Averett. Knotted at 6-6 at one point, Averett charged to the tune of an 11-2 series, where senior outside hitter
Sydney Mounce recorded three kills, senior middle hitter
Allie Lane had a service aces, and combined with various Shenandoah attack errors, the Cougars then led 17-7. A lead that was not relinquished, Averett rode its way to a 25-14 set win, and trailed just by a set.
Both teams held serve early in the fourth, but the Hornets rallied to amass a 15-9 advantage. Averett attempted to close the gap, but the visitors held strong, and pulled away to lock up the four-set victory.
Mounce and fellow senior outside hitter
Tahani Villines tied for the team-high in overall kills with 10 apiece. Freshman libero
Katheryn Tate had three service aces, and senior setter
Megan Litman commanded the interior to the tune of 18 assists and 12 digs, both atop the home leaderboards.
Outside hitter/defensive specialist
Hannah Sachs got in on the action with seven kills, nine digs, and a block assists. On defense, Villines had four total blocks, while Mounce and Lane recorded three block assists.
The Cougars wrap up their week with a conference home bout against Eastern Mennonite University on Saturday, Sept. 12. First serve is set for noon.
