FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist volleyball team dropped a tight 3-1 decision to Meredith on Thursday evening at the Riddle Center. The loss drops MU to 5-3 on the season (0-1 USA South) while the Avenging Angels move to 6-5 (1-0 USA South) on the year.

Meredith won the opening set, 25-20, and outscored the Monarchs 5-0 to close out the set after Methodist had battled back to tie the score at 20-20. In the second set, the Monarchs controlled throughout and posted a 25-18 win before Meredith posted 25-22 wins in the third and fourth sets to seal the win.

Ashley Beardsley and Chyenne Pump each had 13 kills to lead the Monarchs offensively. Cassidy Hayes added nine kills, but hit just .091, and Brittany Ter Meer chipped in seven. Maggie Harris had 43 assists, her fifth match of the year with 40 or more assists, and she contributed four kills on seven attempts without an error.

Karly Klimas led the defense with 27 digs and added a pair of service aces. Now with 143 digs on the season, she needs 242 to overtake Jordan Grady '10 for the career digs record at MU. Pump and Harris each had 16 digs, while Hayes and Ter Meer contributed three blocks apiece.

The Avenging Angels were led by Karlie Long's 11 kills. Jasmine Aguinaldo and Elizabeth Pattison each had seven, and Alex Hafliger and Emily Hendricks each contributed six. Hannah Blaylock had 36 assists and a pair of service aces. Long also posted a match-high four aces.

Hafliger totaled eight blocks on the night, and Emery McGee led the way with 18 digs.

Methodist returns to the court on Saturday as it travels to Greensboro College to take on the Pride and Mary Baldwin beginning at 10:00 am.