DANVILLE, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Volleyball Team (2-1) split its pair of matches Saturday at the 20th Annual Cougar Classic hosted by Averett University at the Grant Center. The Wasps defeated the Quakers of Guilford College, 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 25-11), to start the day and fell by a 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-21, 25-16) to Averett Cougars in the final match of the night.
E&H attacked at a .271 (49-17-118) clip in its match against Guilford, hitting over .250 in each of the three sets it won. Sophomore outside hitter Tristen Pennington (Kingsport, Tenn.) tallied 15 kills and four service aces in the match to lead all players in both categories.
Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Doss (Meadowview, Va.) tied her career high with 12 kills and added a pair of blocks as well while sophomore middle Kennady Thomason (Chattanooga, Tenn.) tallied 11 kills on a .435 (11-1-23) hitting percentage. Senior setter Maleah Neely (Hillsville, Va.) dished out a match-high 36 assists and added eight digs while sophomore defensive specialist Breanna Wallen (Rye Cove, Va.) had eight digs of her own.
Guilford was paced by Kelsey Ruehling's 14-kills and six digs while Brittany DeCesare added seven kills. Maile Munro notched a double-double with 29 assists and 12 digs while Brooke Herr had 13 digs to lead all players.
In the nightcap against Averett, the Wasps got out to a 1-0 lead and it seemed as if the match would go down to the wire. AU took the final three sets to claim the 3-1 victory over E&H.
Doss led Emory & Henry offensively setting a new career-high of 18 kills on .410 (18-2-39) hitting and 10 digs against the Cougars. Pennington had 10 kills and 15 digs while Neely also notched a double-double with 38 assists and 10 digs. Sophomore libero Emily Hinshaw (Boone, N.C.) registered a personal-best 20 digs to lead the Wasps.
Averett's Hannah Shields had 23 kills, 12 digs and two service aces while Sarah Smooth added 13 kills in the win. Nicole Barringer put up a match-high 46 assists and Katelyn Holley chipped in 15 digs for the Cougars.
E&H will take on Central College of Iowa on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m., in the final day of the Cougar Classic. The Wasps will conclude the tournament with a match against familiar non-conference foe Greensboro College at 1:00 p.m.
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photo courtesy of Holly Donahue