WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Meredith College volleyball team allowed Averett to slip back into Friday's USA South contest for a 3-2 (20-25, 25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 14-16) victory over the Angels. Salem capitalized on Meredith's loss and finished off the Angels 3-1 (17-25, 25-27, 25-23, 22-25) to close out the tri-match.

With one week remaining in regular season play, the Avenging Angels must finish strong for an opportunity to host early rounds of the conference tournament. The Cougars remain undefeated in the East division ahead of MCVB with a 10-3 league record. William Peace shares three losses with the Angels heading into Wednesday's cross-town rival event.

Game 1
Averett opened the match with a set one lead, but the Angels recovered quickly to hold a 15-6 advantage in the second stanza. AU scored the next four points before MCVB finished off Averett by 10.

The Cougars jumped ahead in the third frame and appeared in control once again. But Meredith's Hannah Blaylock set Haley Reeg for a kill and served up an ace two points later to lead the Angels on a 10-1 rally to retake the lead 15-11 and force a second AU timeout. Averett dealt themselves back into the hand trailing by just two, but Carson Jones and Caroline Corey landed back-to-back blasts to keep AU at a distance. Katie Keen dished out an assist to Jones to finish off Averett for a 2-1 lead.

The teams evened the score on five occasions through the first 10 points of the fourth frame, but an AU stuff kicked off a 5-0 rally to give the Cougars an advantage. Reeg ended the drought, and consecutive blocks from Alex Hafliger late in the set pulled the Angels back to within two at 22-20. 

Hafliger landed a kill in the middle and an AU misstep kept Meredith close at 23-22, but the Cougars closed out the frame to force a deciding set.

The Avenging Angels appeared to be in control of the fifth stanza through an 11-6 lead, but Cougar Brianna Williams landed back-to-back winners to trim that lead to three. Meredith called for a timeout, and Hafliger returned to the court for a kill.

But a MCVB service error followed by a Cougar stuff evened the score at 13, and Williams edged AU back in front on the next play. More trouble at the service line gave Averett match-point, and Cougar Hannah Shields landed the next ball to give AU the win.

Corey finished with 13 kills, 18 digs for her third double-double on the season, and Hafliger led all with a 18 kills, nine blocks in the middle. Reeg posted 12 kills, and Blaylock dished out a match-high 45 assists.

AU's Lynsey Corriher led the Cougars with 16 kills, Hannah Shields tallied 11, and Williams finished with 9. Emily Stanley grabbed 17 digs, and Keenan Marks with McKenzie Miller combined for 40 assists.

Game 2
Meredith failed to recover quickly enough from the loss to East Division leader Averett and allowed the host Salem Spirits to take an early 1-0 match lead in the night cap. In the second frame the Angels held a 23-20 lead before the Spirits scored seven of the next nine points to edge past MCVB for a two-frame advantage.

The Avenging Angels finally stepped up and held a lead throughout the third set, but the effort was shortlived as Salem steadily finished off Meredith in four.

Hafliger led the Angels with 13 kills, seven blocks, and Corey notched a dozen winners from the outside. Reeg and Elisabeth Smith posted eight kills apiece, and Lauren Phillips led her team with 21 digs. Blaylock tallied 43 assists with five digs in the loss.

Three Salem Spirits led with double-digit kills, including team leader Kylie Taffer with 13. Maggie Hawks led all with 25 digs.

The Avenging Angels enjoy the remainder of the weekend off before heading to William Peace Wednesday night. Follow the action live HERE.