WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.  Methodist ran up against a hot attack Monday evening at the Salem College Athletics Complex as the host Spirits swept the Monarchs, 3-0, in USA South women's volleyball action.

Salem finished the match with a .339 attacking percentage, a figure that included a .464 clip in a game one victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final results: Salem def. Methodist, 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-22)
Records: Methodist 8-4 (2-2 USAS), Salem 7-6 (5-1 USAS)
Location: Athletics Complex Gymnasium; Winston-Salem, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The tone was set early as Salem broke out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set and never trailed in a 12-point win.
• While the Spirits struck for an attack percentage of .464, Methodist equaled its kills (8) with attacking errors (8) for a .000 success rate.
• The Monarchs had a better outing in the second set, especially early on when they erased a 3-0 deficit with a six-point run to grab their first lead of the night.
• Tied at 9-9 the Spirit ran off a five-point string, but again the Monarchs battled back, knotting the score at 20-20 and then again at 23-23, the latter on a kill by Kaeli Ryan.
• Salem scored the next two points, though, to seize control of the match.
• Less than one week ago Methodist rallied from a 2-0 deficit at Eastern Mennonite University…but there would be no repeat of that comeback at Salem.
• The Monarchs looked like they were ready for a repeat of that performance, taking a lead at 11-7.
• The teams were knotted at 14-14, 16-16, 17-17 and 18-18 before the Spirits scored four straight to inch closer to match victory.
• Methodist staved off three match points, beginning with Megan Andrews' kill at 24-19. Jasmine Tapscott put another ball down to make it 24-21 and then an attacking error on the Salem side of the net drew the Monarchs to within two at 24-22.
• The rally would end, however, with one last Salem point to enable the home team to finish off the victory.
• Tapscott and Brittany Ter Meer paced the Methodist attack with seven kills apiece.
• Lili Henry set up the attack with 22 assists, and Maddie Barga and Andrews supplemented the attack with two service aces apiece.
• Defensively, Andrews led the way for Methodist with 14 digs.

SALEM NOTES

• Taylor Moultan, with 14 kills, led both teams and got some help at the net from Madelyn Chappell who added 13 kills.
• The Spirits finished the night with that .339 attacking percentage, a figure that was not infringed upon by Methodist blocking as the Monarchs failed to record a block for the first time this season.

UP NEXT

• Methodist continues on the road Thursday with a match at North Carolina Wesleyan.
• The road-warrior Monarchs then get their first match of the season at home, hosting a USA South tri-match against Greensboro and William Peace on Saturday afternoon.