FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - In Saturday's USA South play day at Methodist, the Meredith College volleyball team recorded a five-set loss to Averett (20-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 11-15) before downing the Ferrum Panthers in straight sets (25-16, 25-15, 25-21). Karlie Long led the offense with 26 kills on the day, and Emery McGee tallied 47 digs.

The Averett match opened with a 6-3 Cougar lead before Elizabeth Pattison knocked down a pair of kills to help Meredith tie the game at six.

Each team recorded a run leaving AU with a lead at 13-12, and the Cougars extended that lead to four. MCVB jumped in for three consecutive points, before Averett's Katelyn Holley served her team on a seven-point series.

Long finally landed a winner to return the ball to Meredith, but the Cougars finished off the set for a 1-0 match lead.

The second set opened in favor of the Avenging Angels thanks in part to a pair of McGee service aces. Long served up a 9-0 series later in the set to help Meredith secure the win for a 1-1 tie.

Averett claimed the third set, and the Angels pulled out the fourth to force a deciding game.

The teams exchanged points throughout the set and evened the score on the fifth occasion at 11-11. A series of unforced Meredith errors helped the Cougars secure the conference win.

Long posted a double-double with 14 kills, 17 digs, and Emily Hendricks tallied 13 kills, six digs and a pair of blocks. Jasmine Aguinaldo led with a game-high six blocks, adding eight kills and five digs. Hannah Blaylock dished out 32 assists, and Keegan Lynch notched 16 digs in the loss.

Averett's Hannah Shields led all with 19 kills, adding 10 digs, and Nicole Barringer tallied a game-high 48 assists with 11 digs.

Meredith capped off the day with a sweep over Ferrum. The Avenging Angels opened with a commanding 18-4 lead before the Panthers battled back. But Aguinaldo finished off the win on a pair of kills to give the Angels a 1-0 lead.

MCVB opened set two with an 8-4 lead, but Ferrum picked up five of the next seven points to pull to within two at 10-8.

Aguinaldo picked up Blaylock's mishandled set to return the ball to the Angels, and then put together a six-point service run to pull away from the Panthers for good.

The Angels appeared to be fully in charge of set three with an eight point lead at 20-12, but a flurry of offensive errors left Ferrum down by just one point at 21-20.

Sarah Brandon knocked down a kill on an assist from Katie Keen and followed with a service ace to help Meredith slip ahead for the win.

Long finished with a match-high 12 kills with Anna Huff and Hendricks recording nine apiece. Lynch added 15 digs to McGee's 17 to fend off the Panther attack and lead Meredith to victory.

The Avenging Angels host USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan Wednesday evening in Weatherspoon Gym. The first set is slated to begin at 7 p.m.