ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.- The NC Wesleyan Volleyball team suffered a tough four set loss to conference foe Averett University (Va.) on Saturday inside Everett Gym. 

Averett won the first set 25-21 before also taking the second set 25-19. NCWC came back to squeak out the third set 25-23 extending it to a fourth where they unfortunately could not rally back all the way and fell 25-22. Averett had gotten out to a 13-5 lead before the Bishops battled back outscoring the Cougars 17-11 to trim their deficit to two, but could not pull out the win.

Averett totaled 44 kills in the win while the Bishops managed 34, but NCWC had more digs overall with 68 led by a team high of 18 from freshman libero Devin Lassiter.

Setter Haileigh Riesenbeck also had 24 assists along with 6 digs while freshman Sydney Barnwell led with 8 kills along with 6 digs, an ace, a block, and 4 assists. Junior middle Hannah Thrasher and junior outside hitter Autumn Spence also had 7 kills each with Thrasher adding two blocks.

NCWC falls to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the USA South with the defeat while Averett improves to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

The Bishops are back in action Monday when they go on the road to face Johnson & Wales University (N.C.) at 6 PM.