DANVILLE, Va. – Averett University women's volleyball got back in the win column on Tuesday evening, as the Cougars swept William Peace University.
Averett (2-12) trounced its way to a commanding 8-0 start, with two service aces and a kill from freshman setter Hannah Batista, and a pair of kills from senior outside Tahani Villines. Despite fight from William Peace (11-8), the Cougars maintained a lead of eight points or more for the remainder of the set and took the last two points for a 25-16 first-set win.
The middle set was much closer between the former USA South rivals, tied as late as 11-11. From there, Averett went on a rampage to the tune of a 14-3 run to take the second set, 25-14. The Cougars recorded one of their best set hitting percentages as a team at 40 percent, with 12 kills to just two errors.
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The home side started the third set winning four straight points and continued that momentum to a 16-9 lead. Two kills from senior outside hitter Allie Lane nurtured the seven-point advantage for the Cougars, but the Pacers were not out yet.
A 7-1 run for the visitors had them climb back within one at 17-16, but Averett replied with four consecutive points to go back up by five. An immediate four-point swing from William Peace took the set down to the wire, and at 21-20, kills from Lane and senior outside hitter Sydney Mounce made the score 23-20 in the Cougars' favor. Three more points from the Pacers had the set knotted up at 23-23, then the two teams traded points as the set went to extras.
One more kill from Mounce and a William Peace attack error clinched the victory for the Cougars, their second sweep of the season.
Lane recorded seven kills for a .385 hitting percentage, three service aces and two digs. Villines recorded a .263 hitting clip with seven kills of her own and a team-leading 10 digs. Junior middle hitter/right side Emily Phillips hit .308 with six kills and two total blocks, the latter of which was the most for Averett on the evening. Sophomore outside hitter/right side Sydney Carbone also had six kills at a .353 hitting percentage.
Batista notched her second-most assists in a single match in 2026 with 19, while senior setter Megan Litman had 11 of her own.
Overall, Averett hit .290 as a team with 39 kills, seven aces, 33 assists and 41 digs, all of which were more than William Peace.
The Cougars head upstate for Maryland for a tri-match on Saturday, Oct. 17, playing Keystone College and hosts St. Mary's College of Maryland. Start time for the first match is set for 1 p.m., before Averett plays the Seahawks at 3 p.m.
