SALEM, Va. – Averett University women's volleyball lost a tight conference three-setter at Roanoke College on Wednesday night.
Roanoke (10-4, 2-1 ODAC) built a large lead early in the first set, and pulled away for a 25-13 advantage.
Averett (1-9, 1-4 ODAC) showed its strongest offensive stretch in the second, in which the Cougars recorded 10 kills, and limited the Maroons to 16 of their own. Up as much as two, at 15-13, Roanoke won four consecutive points, then Averett willed its way to an 18-18 tie. Two straight 3-0 runs from both sides knotted the set at 21-all, before a pair of kills from Karly Shipe and Kaci Morrison helped the home team secure the two-set lead.
The third stanza went in positive fashion for the visitors as they built a 6-3 lead on the back of a series of kills and a service ace. Eight points in a row from Roanoke flipped the set to 11-6, but the Cougars fought back to an 11-9 deficit. A late surge from the Maroons led to the set, and series close at 25-16.
Freshman setter
Hannah Batista paced the visitors with 11 assists, and had seven digs on the defensive end. Senior outside hitter
Sydney Mounce brought her team-lead in kills on the season to 102 with seven on the night. Senior setter
Megan Litman provided eight assists and five digs of her own.
Senior outside hitter
Tahani Villines notched nine digs with two service aces, while Batista and fellow senior outside
Allie Lane each recorded aces.
Averett returns back to road conference action the following Tuesday, Oct. 6, as the team heads to Hollins University. Start time is set for 6:30 p.m.
