Averett’s Keatts named USA South Libero of the Year

Averett senior Marie Keatts, a Tunstall High graduate, was named the USA South Conference Libero of the Year and was selected to the all-sportsmanship and all-conference honorable mention teams for women’s volleyball Wednesday.

Junior Shannon Andy and senior Jordan Maupin were named to the all-conference second team and sophomore Jesse Jones was a third-team selection.

“One of the things we always joke about is (Keatts) being 5-foot-1, the joke is that everybody looks up to her. Figuratively,” Averett volleyball coach Danny Miller said. “But they really do look up to her. They see how hard she works and how she’s always giving 100 percent … and that’s what builds teams that are successful year after year. You have people who set that example.”

Keatts was named the USA South Defensive Player of the Week three times this season, including this week, and has racked up 638 digs, good for 4.66 per game, and 42 aces through 137 sets this season.

Andy has recorded 292 kills in 131 sets played and Maupin leads the team with 329 kills in 122 sets. Maupin also has 68 service aces and a 2.34 dig average.

Jones, the Cougars’ setter, has averaged 9.47 assists a set in 129 sets played. She also has 63 service aces and a 1.75 dig average.

Averett (23-14) plays N.C. Wesleyan at 5 p.m. Friday in the USA South Conference Tournament semifinals.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Keatts said about her collegiate volleyball career winding down. “Tuesday night we played here and that was the last time I’ll ever play on my home court. That was hard. I want to go out, win or lose, just knowing that we played the best we can.”

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Averett senior Hillary Wood, a GW graduate, and freshman Claire Armstrong were named to the USA South all-conference first team for women’s soccer Wednesday, while freshman Ringa Remes was honored with a spot on the second team and senior Meghan Cole earned an honorable metion.

Senior Kirsten Marvin was recognized as a member of the all-sportsmanship team.

Wood, a co-captain, scored a team-high 11 goals and dished out three assists while starting in all 18 games for the Cougars. Armstrong finished the season with nine goals and two assists in 18 games.

Remes scored one goal and made two assists while providing an impact in the Cougars’ backfield and Cole had one goal and two assists in 16 games. Marvin started in all 18 games for the Cougars during her final season at Averett.

The Cougars (7-10-1) completed their season on Tuesday with a 2-0 loss to Greensboro College in the USA South Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

MEN’S SOCCER

Freshman John Thrower and sophomore Samuli Markkanen were named to the USA South All-Conference men’s soccer first team Wednesday.

Freshmen Tuukka Myyra and Levi Earl earned all-conference second team honors and freshman goalkeeper Nate Barker was an honorable mention selection. Freshman Danny Ly also received recognition as Averett’s member of the USA South all-sportsmanship team.

Thrower, a co-captain, has started all 18 games for the Cougars. He has three goals and six assists entering Averett’s USA South Conference Tournament semifinal game at 5 p.m. Friday against Christopher Newport University. Markkanen has tallied eight goals and three assists in 16 games played.

Myyra leads the Cougars with a team-high seven assists to go along with seven goals in 18 starts. Earl is the team’s leading goal scorer with 10 goals and four assists in 14 games.

Barker has logged 1,464.5 minutes in goal for the Cougars, where he’s made 69 saves while allowing just 1.72 goals a contest. Ly has notched one goal and two assists in 16 games played.