Virginia Wesleyan Outlasts Cougars in Five Sets

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Averett University battled back to force Thursday night's match to five sets, but the Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball team outlasted the Cougars to win, 25-18, 25-18, 25-27, 17-25, 15-13.

The Marlins hit .278 and .379 in the first and second sets respectively to take the early two set lead.

Senior Tiffany Barrett was instrumental to Virginia Wesleyan's success on the evening, hitting a team-high .488 to finish with 22 kills while also corralling 16 digs and four service aces.

Virginia Wesleyan looked to close out the match in the third set despite the Cougars taking a 9-2 lead. Trailing 10-4, Barrett served four-straight points to close to gap to two, 10-8.

The Marlins continued to nip away at Averett, tying it three times before taking their first lead of the set at 22-21 on a service ace by Barrett.

Averett fought off a match point at 25-24 on a kill by Brianna Williams. A kill by Sarah Smoot combined with an attack error forced a fourth set.

The Cougars took another early lead in the fourth set before Virginia Wesleyan battled back again. Trailing 17-16, Averett won nine straight points to win 25-17, highlighted by two kills from Smoot and one by Hannah Shields.

Averett carried that momentum into the fifth set where the Cougars took an early 3-1 lead. The Marlins responded with a 5-2 run to go up 6-5. The Cougars tied the contest at six, but a service error and a Doneisha Hall kill put Virginia Wesleyan up 8-6. It was a lead Virginia Wesleyan would not surrender.

Shields finished with 27 kills on a .407 hitting clip to go along with 16 digs. Keenan Marks tallied 50 assists and a team-best 19 digs for Averett (17-7).

Hall broke her career high for kills set on Wednesday night with 18 on Thursday. Her .333 hitting percentage was also a personal best for that many kills. Emilee Pierson had 29 assists while Meghan Wood contributed 25.

Virginia Wesleyan (9-12/1-4) hosts Roanoke College (11-4/3-3) and St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) on Saturday for a tri-match as part of Homecoming Weekend.