LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Bridgewater College women's volleyball team fell to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rival Lynchburg College, 3-1, and Averett University, 3-0 Saturday afternoon.

Lynchburg recorded two kills and a service ace in the start of the first set. Carleigh Studtmann stopped the Hornets in their tracks and collected the first point for the Eagles. Bridgewater took the lead on a pair of kills from Rachel Kinsey and a Lynchburg attack error to bring the score to 7-4. The Eagles maintained their lead but Sam Page served up five points for the Hornets to overtake the Eagles 13-12. A kill by Megann Grimes and a service ace from Chelsea Owensby gave Bridgewater the lead once more but Lynchburg remained close behind.

The Hornets were able to pull ahead for a 23-17 score before Studtmann served three points for the Eagles in an effort to lessen the point gap. However, Lynchburg secured the 25-21 set win on a Bridgewater attack error.

In the second set, the Eagles landed first on the scoreboard but Lynchburg was able to catch up quickly. The Hornets then ran away with the lead as three kills from Aricquel Payne and a service ace by Sierra Strathy brought Lynchburg to an 11-4 score. The Eagles fought hard to reel in the Hornets as Grimes and Abby Mills recorded a pair of kills each to push Bridgewater to lessen the gap 17-13. But Lynchburg never relinquished the lead as Amanda Perry scored the final point for a 25-17 set win.

A kill by Courtney Thornburg gave the Eagles the first point of the third set before they took a big lead thanks to a pair of kills by Grimes and two Lynchburg errors. The Hornets managed to decrease the gap to 17-15 but the Eagles didn't look back as Grimes locked down the set point and the 25-20 victory.

Lynchburg came out with the first point in the fourth set but the Eagles were right on their tail. The Hornets widened the gap, significantly, to 19-8. A kill by Mills and a Lynchburg attack error gave the Eagles extra points but the Hornets left them behind as Jennifer Garrett served an ace to end the set 25-10.

The Eagles were led by Grimes who tallied 12 kills with Mills adding 9. Mills also recorded 10 digs to lead the defense with Shannon Skellchock, Rachel Donaldson, and Owensby chipping in seven digs apiece. Skellchock also tallied 27assists for the match.

Lynchburg was led by Aricquel Payne who had 17 kills for the match. Jennifer Garrett added 13 kills of her own. Makenzie Ross collected 24 assists while Lynn Walsh chipped in 20 assists. Sam Page, Brittany Crawford and Garrett led defense with nine digs each.

The Eagles faced off against Averett University in the second match of the day. A kill by Mills placed the Eagles first on the board before she added a service ace and an Averett attack error for a 3-0 Bridgewater lead. Sarah Temple kept the Eagles ahead by adding a kill of her own. Averett managed to catch up to the Eagles before stealing the lead. Skellchock's two service aces helped bring the Eagles to a 12-11 score.

The teams remained locked in a tight battle as the score tied repeatedly until Katelyn Holly served a Bridgewater attack error to secure the set win, 25-22.

The second set saw the Eagles claim the first point yet again but the Cougars were able to surge ahead to an 11-6 lead. Bridgewater managed to decrease the gap to 16-10 but Averett pulled away with another large lead. Despite the Eagles' efforts to reel the Cougars back in, Averett collected the 25-14 set win on an Eagles' attack error.

Averett changed things up by landing first on the scoreboard in the third set but Bridgewater soon took the lead as Studtmann recorded the first kill before serving two aces, an attack error and a kill for Grimes for a 5-1 lead. The Eagles kept the lead for most of the set until Averett caught up and overtook Bridgewater, 18-12. Two kills by Thornburg and Mills kept the Eagles afloat as Studtmann chipped in with two kills, while Skellchock served an ace. But it wouldn't be enough as Averett recorded the final kill for a 25-18 set win and the 3-0 match victory.

The Eagles were once again led by Grimes who collected10 kills with Studtmann adding five kills and two service aces. Skellchock had 24 assists and three service aces for the match. Owensby led defense with 12 digs with Skellchock chipping in 11 of her own.

The Cougars were led by Hannah Shields who recorded 21 kills. Christiana Summa led defense with 14 digs while Jessica Sheek tallied five service aces. Nicole Barringer had 29 assists for the match.

The Eagles return home Tuesday when they take on ODAC rival Virginia Wesleyan College at Nininger Hall. Game time starts at 6:30 p.m.