Women's Volleyball | 10/13/2012 8:45:00 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist volleyball team earned a split of a pair of USA South matches at the March F. Riddle Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Monarchs opened the day with a 3-0 loss to Piedmont, before sweeping Greensboro 3-0 in the day's final match. The Lions defeated the Monarchs, 25-15, 25-13, 25-13 and MU knocked off the Pride 25-14, 25-22, 25-13.

In the loss to Piedmont, the Lions held MU to a -.019 hitting percentage as the Monarch offense struggled to find a rhythm. Allison Graves and Brittany McCoy led the Monarchs with six kills apiece and Risa Smith and Hayley Williams notched four each. Kendra Krupp totaled 14 assists.

Defensively, Karly Klimas paced Methodist with 14 digs, while Graves added 11 and Stephanie Wood totaled three blocks.

Kaitlin Norman had 14 kills with a .500 hitting percentage for Piedmont. Katheryn Knarr had 13 assists and Ashley Fannon added three service aces. Knarr also posted 13 digs and Paige Eslinger added 11.

In the Monarchs' sweep of Greensboro, the offense found its groove as Methodist hit .306 as a team and also registered eight service aces. Wood led the way with 10 kills, hitting a robust .600. Smith chipped in nine kills and Williams finished with eight. Wood was also responsible for seven of the MU service aces. Krupp orchestrated the offense to the tune of 28 assists.

Klimas once again led the defense with 15 digs. Graves registered eight digs and Smith totaled seven.

Olivia Gough led the Pride with 11 kills and Liz Widenhouse had eight. Siarra Cates notched a team-high 13 digs and Danielle Simpson added 12.

Methodist is back on the court on Saturday when they take on both Ferrum and Peace in Raleigh beginning at 2:00 pm.