DANVILLE, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Volleyball Team (2-1) split its two matches Saturday in day one of the 21st Annual Averett Cougar Classic at the Grant Center. The Wasps picked up a 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-14) non-conference win over the Quakers of Guilford College in the first match of the day but fell in their second match of the day to host Averett, 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23).
The Wasps got out to a quick start against conference foe Guilford, using a .238 team hitting percentage (32-12-84), seven service aces and five blocks to earn the win. GC's team attack was not there, as the Quakers had only 19 kills in the match compared to 19 errors (-.069).
Emory & Henry junior outside hitter Tristen Pennington (Kingsport, Tenn.) and junior right side hitter Hannah Doss (Meadowview, Va.) tied for a match-high eight kills while Pennington added eight digs and Doss notched seven digs and two blocks. Junior middle Kennady Thomason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) notched seven kills and three blocks as well. Sophomore setter Sarah Scott (Collinsville, Va.) dished out 29 assists and junior libero Emily Hinshaw (Boone, N.C.) led all players with 15 digs and three service aces.
Guilford was led by Casey Davis' seven kills and eight digs while Kelsey Ruehling and Heather Crawford added five and four kills, respectively. Maile Munro had 18 assists while Brooke Herr notched 10 digs.
In the afternoon match against Averett, Emory & Henry stumbled in the first set but bounced back to tie the match, 1-1. The final two sets were tightly contested and both were tied within a few points of the end, but the Cougars were able to squeak out the win.
Pennington notched a team-high 12 kills and added 16 digs to complete her first double-double of the year and added three service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Ali Singleton (Mount Jackson, Va.) had 11 kills on a .281 (11-2-32) hitting percentage and added five digs and two blocks. Doss added nine kills while Thomason chipped in six kills and four blocks. Scott notched 33 assists and 13 digs for a double-double while Hinshaw had 15 digs and four aces.
Averett was paced by Hannah Shields who had 19 kills, 23 digs and four aces while Sarah Smoot posted a .359 hitting percentage with 17 kills. Kristen Viegelmann recorded 42 assists and 10 digs while Christiana Summa added 20 digs.
Emory & Henry will complete play in the Averett Cougar Classic on Sunday with two more matches. The Wasps will take on the Pride of Greensboro College at 9:30 a.m., and will finish things off with a non-conference match against the Roanoke College Maroons at 1:30 p.m.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15