By Nick Porter

DANVILLE, Va.—The Southern Virginia women's volleyball team fell 3-2 in a tightly contested five sets at Averett University in the 2016 season opener.

The Knights (0-1) took the first set 25-20, before falling in sets two and three 22-25. They were then able to pull out a 26-24 win in set four before a tough 11-15 loss in the final set. 

Junior outside hitter Penny Gwynn led the Knights' attack with 19 kills followed by Allison Tiegs and Hannah Hosier with eight and six kills respectively. Hosier led the team with 15 digs.

Junior setter Valerie Baety recorded a match-high 29 assists and added 12 digs of her own.

The Knights out-blocked Averett (1-0) 24-10, but struggled from the service line commiting 15 serving errors.

Emma Evans and Morgan Starkie each recorded six block assists. 

Southern Virginia will take a week off before a four-game invitational at Washington & Lee University on September 9-10 in Lexington, Virginia.