DANVILLE, Va. — Third-seeded Averett came from behind to beat sixth-seeded Meredith College in five games in the first round of the USA South Conference tournament on Tuesday. The Cougars trailed 2-1 through the first three games, but they won the last two to advance to Friday's semifinals.
With their backs against the wall, the Cougars (16-19) found their rhythm in the fourth game. Juniors
Brandy Apple and
Marie Keatts and freshman
Brittany Moore each rattled off five straight service points each on back-to-back-to-back serves, and Averett crushed Meredith 25-8 to tie the match and force a deciding fifth set.
The Avenging Angels (11-22) hung with the Cougars through most of the fifth game, but Averett eventually pulled away to a 15-9 win. The Cougars advance to play No. 2 seed N.C. Wesleyan in the semifinals at 5 p.m. on Friday at Christopher Newport University. N.C. Wesleyan defeated Ferrum 3-0 on Tuesday.
Sophomore
Brittany Walters led the Cougars with 22 kills, while Moore finished with 12 and Apple and junior
Jordan Maupin added 10 kills each. Senior
Meredith Schwane led the team with 31 digs, followed by Maupin's 18 digs and Moore's 11 digs. Freshman
Jesse Jones had a team-high 55 assists.
Morgan White paced Meredith with 14 kills and 16 digs, and MaryBeth Finegan had 26 digs.
Meredith won the opening game 25-21, but Averett knotted the score with a 25-19 win in the second game. Meredith then put the Cougars on the brink of elimination by taking the third set 25-21.
Averett won all three meetings with Meredith, including a pair of 3-0 victories during the regular season.