Women's Volleyball | 10/20/2009 11:56:13 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. - Meredith College came out firing against Methodist Tuesday night and took advantage of the Monarchs' slow start to earn the 3-2 (13-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-17) win.

Meredith (12-13, 6-7) jumped out to the early lead in the first set and cruised to the 25-13 win. In the second set, Methodist (15-8, 7-6) scored the first three points, but the Avenging Angels kept the set close. The score was tied at 17 before the Monarchs scored four straight points capped off by a service ace from freshman Stephanie Wood to take the 21-17 lead. The Monarchs had set point at 24-18, but Meredith pushed it to 24-21 before sophomore Jalesty Washington finished with a kill to tie the match at one set a piece.

Trailing 10-14 in the third set, the Monarchs had to battle back and went on a 7-0 run backed by the serving of sophomore Elizabeth Rice to help Methodist take the lead. Meredith came back and the set at 17 with both teams exchanging points before the Angels took the 23-25 win.

The fourth set had both teams trading points again with the match tied at 17. Rice went back to serve again and back-to-back blocks from the Monarchs gave Methodist the 19-17 advantage. Methodist had a chance to win at 24-22, but senior Taylor Cates finished off the set with a kill for the 25-23 win.

Methodist had to come from behind in the fifth set but tied it up at seven. The set was tied again on six more occasions. Methodist had a chance to win at 14-13 and 15-14, but Meredith scored three straight points to win 15-17.

Wood led the team with 15 kills while Cates had 13 and Washington added 12. Sophomore Kayci Miller had 45 assists while sophomore Kelsey Yates paced the team with 16 digs.

The Monarchs will travel to Shenandoah this weekend for a tri-match with the Hornets and Averett Cougars.

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