Pacers Fall to Cougars in USA South Tournament

Danville, VA-The Peace College volleyball squad ended the 2009 season with tonight's 3-1 loss at Averett University in the first round of tournament play.  No. 3 Averett moves on to play No. 2 North Carolina Wesleyan in the semifinals.  League leader Christopher Newport will face No. 4 Methodist Friday as well.

The Cougars took an early 1-0 match lead over Peace with a 25-18 set one score. 

Peace rebounded in the second.  Leah Chandler (Chapel Hill, NC) set the pace with a three-point service run to take a two-point lead over AU at 7-5.  The teams battled and Averett recaptured the lead 13-11.  PC's Amber Lowe (Cedar Grove, NC) served Peace ahead once more before Cougar Jordan Maupin helped her team move ahead by three.  Bree Crook (Reno, NV) regained a two-point Pacer lead at 22-20.  The teams exchanged the next several points, but senior Elizabeth Evanoff (Manns Harbor, NC) sealed the 25-23 win on one of her three kills on the night.

Averett regrouped in the third and secured a commanding lead on a thirteen-point victory.

The hosts carried the momentum into set four and enjoyed an early 10-point lead at 16-6.  The Pacers challenged the No. 3 seed scoring 7 of the next 10 points to come within 6.  But Averett sealed the win with six kills to the Pacers four in the final 10 points of the match.

Lowe notched a team-high 15 kills, adding 12 digs for her thirteenth double-double of the season.  Outside hitter Megan Melchiorre tallied six kills in 22 attempts, adding 10 digs.  Libero Brandi Pinnell (Louisburg, NC) grabbed 12 digs on the match.  Evanoff added three blocks to her career totals.

Averett's Andy Shannon recorded a match-high 17 kills, adding five blocks.  Marie Keatts tallied a match-high 22 digs.

Congratulations Pacers on a strong finish.  See you on the sidelines next year!