GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford College volleyball team (5-2, 1-0 ODAC) opened conference play with a 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 27-25, 25-21) win over Averett University (2-7, 0-1 ODAC) on Wednesday night inside the Ragan-Brown Field House.

Natalie Moore (Talbott, Tenn.) led the Quakers with a double-double of 18 kills and 11 digs, while Chrisbel Alcantara (San Juan, Puerto Rico) followed closely with 16 kills. Madison Duvall (Sophia, N.C.) added 10 kills and four blocks, reaching her 100th career block in the process. Jillian Mapes (Hodges, S.C.) steered the offense with 46 assists and chipped in 11 digs for her third straight double-double. At the net, Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) contributed seven kills, and defensively, Vivian Cavataio (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) anchored the back row with 18 digs. Zoe Whisnant (Greensboro, N.C.) and Amber Chiarolanzio (Deep Gap, N.C.) each added 15 digs to round out the effort.

Averett's offense was led by Sydney Mounce, who posted 19 kills on a .500 hitting clip, while Tahani Villines added 12 kills and a match-high 30 digs. Dayton Moore contributed 28 helpers and 21 digs.

Guilford came out strong in the opening set, as Moore and Alcantara powered the attack in a 25-15 win. The Cougars responded quickly, evening the match with a 25-15 second set.

The pivotal third set saw both sides trade points in a back-and-forth battle, featuring 14 ties and seven lead changes. Haley Pasour (Winterville, N.C.) provided a spark for Guilford at the net with a timely kill and a block, while Alcantara ignited the offense, tallying seven kills in the frame. After the Cougars fought off two set points to even the score at 25-25, the Quakers responded with consecutive points to close out the set, 27-25.

Momentum carried into the fourth, where Guilford built a late cushion behind kills from Duvall. Averett pulled within two at 21-19, but the Quakers held firm, and a Mapes set to a Moore kill sealed the 25-21 clincher.

Guilford returns to Jack Jensen Court on Saturday, September 13th, for a non-conference matchup against the Virginia University of Lynchburg Vul Dragons at 1:00 P.M.

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