DANVILLE, Va. (Sept. 10, 2026) – Pfeiffer captured the first win of the 2026 season in emphatic fashion Thursday night, sweeping Averett 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 in a nonconference road match at the E. Stuart James Grant Center.
The Falcons improved to 1-4 on the season behind a balanced offensive attack and dominant serving performance. Pfeiffer finished with 36 kills, a .210 hitting percentage and 11 service aces while limiting Averett to a .145 attack percentage.
Jada Thomas led the Falcons offensively with 11 kills and a .259 hitting percentage, while
Gabi Gama added nine kills, 10 digs and two aces.
Anasty Faavesi also contributed nine kills and two block assists as three Pfeiffer players reached double figures.
The Falcons' setters kept the offense running efficiently.
Karmen Rion recorded 17 assists, three aces and eight digs, while
Kelsey Hussey added 12 assists as Pfeiffer totaled 35 assists against just two ball-handling errors.
After a tightly contested opening set that featured four ties, Pfeiffer broke away with a 10-4 run midway through the frame. Consecutive service aces from Gama helped the Falcons build a four-point cushion, and kills from Thomas and Faavesi aided the closing push in the 25-21 win.
Pfeiffer seized control early in the second set. The Falcons used strong serving from Rion and reserve defensive specialist
Alana Herring, who delivered four aces, to turn a one-point advantage into a commanding lead. Pfeiffer closed the set on a 9-4 run to win 25-16 and take a two-set advantage.
The third set was the most competitive, with seven ties and five lead changes. Averett rallied from a six-point deficit to tie the score at 15-15, but Pfeiffer answered with an 8-1 surge sparked by kills from Thomas, Faavesi and Gama. The Falcons then scored five of the final six points to complete the sweep.
Herring finished with a match-high four aces, helping Pfeiffer post 11 aces as a team. Gama paced the defense with 10 digs, while Rion added eight digs and
Emma Line chipped in six.
For Averett (0-5), Sydney Mounce, Allie Lane and Tahani Villines each recorded six kills. Lane hit .500 and added a service ace and solo block, while Villines led the Cougars with 12 digs.
The Falcons will return to play on Friday, Sept. 11 with a 4:30 p.m. road match at Carolina University.
