DANVILLE, Va. -- Five players with at least five kills, including Jessica Beam and Emma Nash who finished with seven kills apiece, helped Averett earn a 25-16, 25-14, 25-19 victory over Salem in USA South Conference volleyball action on Tuesday evening at the Grant Center in Danville, Va.
The Cougars (16-5, 6-3 USA South) were efficient throughout the evening, closing with 47 kills and a .282 attack percentage after committing 14 errors. Beam and Nash were tops among individuals on offense, while Lauren Montren and Sarah Shropshire contributed six kills, respectively. Zamyiah Mangum delivered five kills for Averett, while teammates Makkenzie Compton (22) and Kinsley (18) combined for 40 of the team's 44 assists.
Salem (0-12, 0-6 USA South) was led on defense by the trio of Macy Nelson (13 digs), Valeria Rosa Lopez (12) and Brooklyn Snow (12). The Spirits' offense was highlighted by the combination of Lopez (nine kills), Snow (seven) and first year Taylor Alleyne, who contributed three kills and a .312 attack percentage. Brianna Moore handed out 12 assists in the match.
After assuming a four-point lead early in the first set, Salem saw its lead slip away with a 6-2 Cougars rally as the match reached an eight-all deadlock. The Spirits regained the lead, behind two kills and a service ace by Lopez, but were unable to pull away from Averett, which drew even at 15. Morgan Barnes drove home a kill for the Cougars, sparking an 8-0 run, resulting in a 23-15 lead. Lopez added a kill down the stretch, but it was not enough to derail Averett, which earned the 25-16 win.
The two teams traded points to open the second set, reaching a 5-5 tie, before Mangum took over in serve to provide Averett with an 11-5 lead due in large part to two service aces. A Lopez kill coupled with an unforced error, helped Salem trim the margin to four, but the Cougars stretched their lead to 18-9 with a slam by Mangum. Alleyne's service game put Salem into double figures, 18-13, but Averett allowed just one point down the stretch as it assumed a 25-14 lead.
Averett seized the opportunity to complete the three-set victory by establishing a 7-2 lead in the opening stages of the third set. Lopez provided Salem with its third point, but the Cougars answered by scoring seven of the next nine points, moving in front 14-5. Snow, Lopez and Laken Edwards converted kills to push Salem into double figures, 18-11, before a brief run moved Averett to within two points of the win. Snow answered with a series of kills, while teaming with Alleyne for a block, to help Salem notch its 19th and final point.
Salem returns to action on Thursday evening when the Spirits host Pfeiffer at Varsity Gym at 7 p.m.
IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR THURSDAY'S HOME MATCH: Salem College Department of Athletics announced for inside contests we will be recognizing the institutional policy of checking vaccine cards or tests 72 hours in advance for events over 50 people. Salem Academy and College faculty, staff and students will be allowed to view indoor athletic contests in person and will be required to show their Salem ID. All contests will be live streamed and accessible to the public via our website. Salem Athletics reserves the right to update these policies without prior notice.
