Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match with Averett in its Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener Tuesday night. 

Kailey Keough had a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs, Bree Spainhour put up her second-straight match with double-digit kills, and the Lynchburg defense came up with 76 digs, but the Hornets lost 3-1 to the Cougars in Turner Gymnasium. 

The Hornets took the first set in a back-and-fourth affair with six ties. The Hornets took their first lead on a solo block from Princess Salifou. The senior had two solos on the night, and the team totaled nine blocks overall. 

Keough got the Hornets to set point with her fifth kill of the set. Jaina Leek assisted on four of her five first-set kills. Myranda Cummings and Bree Spianhour denied Averett's comeback attempt with a block, taking the first 25-22. 

After Averett tied the match up with a convincing 25-16 second set, Tori Williamson came alive in the final two sets as the Hornets hung close with the Cougars. The freshman had six of her seven kills in the last two stanzas. Spainhour also thrived in the last two sets. In the third, Lynchburg's two-sport athlete recorded four kills over a five-point span as the Hornets drew within two of the Cougars after trailing 17-10. However, the Cougars outlasted the Hornets in the third 25-22. 

The fourth set proved decisive for Averett despite a .364 hitting percentage from the Hornets. Lynchburg was five points away from forcing a tiebreaker set, but the Cougars rallied and closed out the Hornets with five-unanswered points. 

Cassi Blackmore recorded her third match of the year with 20+ digs, Abbey Barlow had a season-high 11, and Cummings had a season-best five block assists. 

Lynchburg (2-4, 0-1 ODAC) plays Trinity (D.C.) across town at Randolph College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. 

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--LYN--