Women's Volleyball | 9/24/2008 10:54:14 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Monarchs started off strong but came up just short to Meredith 2-3 (25-22, 22-25, 20-25, 25-22, 14-16).  Methodist moves to 8-8 overall and 2-4 in the USA South while Meredith is 4-12 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

Methodist was down 4-1 in the first set but came back to lead 11-7.  The Monarchs had set point at 24-20 on the kill from Allison Averitt but Meredith pushed it to 24-22 before Taylor Cates finished with the kill on Jordan Grady's assist to win 25-22. 

Meredith took over in the second set despite six kills a piece from Sara Yeatman and Averitt.  Yeatman gave the Monarchs another chance with a kill at 24-22, but Meredith evened the match at one set a piece with the 22-25 win.

Methodist fell behind in the third set and Meredith maintained their lead.  Methodist picked up the point to move within one at 20-21, but Meredith earned the next four points for the 20-25 win.  Jalesty Washington led the Monarchs with five kills in the set while Kelsey Yates had 10 digs.

The Monarchs responded by taking a 13-9 lead in the fourth set on a kill from Washington.  Methodist led 24-21, but Meredith scored the kill to make it 24-22.  Averitt finished things off for Methodist with the assist from Melissa Mott to send the match to five sets.

During the fifth set, the score was tied on six different occasions and Methodist looked like they had the advantage at 13-13.  Meredith went up 14-13, but Methodist came back to tie the set again.  Meredith scored the final two points to win 16-14 and take the match over the Monarchs.

Yeatman finished with 19 kills and 21 digs while Washington had 17 kills and four service aces.  Averitt had 15 kills.  Mott dished out 50 assists to go along with four aces while Yates led the team with 34 digs at libero.

The Monarchs will host a tri-match on Saturday with matches against Mary Baldwin at 12 pm and Peace at 4 pm.

Box Score