Score: Southern Virginia 3, Meredith 1 (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22)

BUENA VISTA, Va. – Three Southern Virginia hitters eclipsed the double-digit kill mark, including Aubrey Packer, who finished with a match-high 17, in a 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 victory over Meredith in USA South Conference action in Buena Vista, Va., on Saturday afternoon. 

Packer led the Knights in kills, while Emma Broadbent and Anne Downs finished with 12 kills apiece. Broadbent drove home her 12 kills in 29 attempts, posting a .310 attack percentage. 

Meredith witnessed both Caitlyn Russell and Daven Brabble closing with nine kills. The tandem highlighted an offensive attack that closed with 34 kills. Meanwhile, the defense was highlighted by Megan Murray's 20 digs, while teammate Caroline Prease added 13 digs. Lillie Davis closed with 29 assists. 

FIRST SET: The Knights established their offense early, jumping out to a 5-1 lead, before doubling the margin to eight with a series of kills by packer and Macie Weatherly that resulted in a 15-7 lead. Meredith capitalized on kills from Russell and Brabble, slicing the deficit to 17-12, before Broadbent and Packer answered with two kills apiece to help secure the eight-point victory. 

SECOND SET: Meredith found its rhythm in the early stages of the second set as Russell came through with a kill and Davis added a service ace for a seven-all deadlock. After the first of four ties, Southern Virginia came through with three straight points to grab a 14-11 edge. A rally by the Avenging Angels sliced the lead to one, with Southern Virginia unable to move in front by more than two until a 18-17 score. Five straight points by the Knights proved to be the deciding factor as they claimed the second set win. 

THIRD SET: Meredith regrouped and turned the momentum in its favor in the third, streaking out to a 10-3 advantage after a series of unforced errors by the Knights. The trio of Kinley Copeland, Russell and Brabble eventually stretched that lead to double digits, 18-6, before eight unanswered points resulted in a four-point lead for Meredith. With the Angels leading 21-15, Southern Virginia retaliated with a 6-0 run to draw even. Slams down the stretch by Brabble and Kresho proved to be the difference in the three-point win for the Angels. 

FOURTH SET: Looking for the chance to clinch the victory, Southern Virginia came out strong and opened up a 9-2 lead in the fourth frame, following three consecutive kills. Meredith used its defense, along with an ace from Davis, to cut the margin to two, 11-9. However, the Knights strung together five unanswered to stretch the lead to seven on back-to-back kills from Anne Downs. Meredith made one final run down the stretch, highlighted by two aces from Russell and a slam by Alyssa Poteat, but it was a kill from Downs that decided the match.