FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist came back from a two-set deficit -- for the second time this season -- to capture a 3-2 victory over visiting Averett Tuesday night in USA South volleyball action at the Riddle Center, presenting three graduating players with a win that did not seem probable earlier on Senior Night.

Prior to the match seniors Alyssa Coffey, Jasmine Tapscott and Brittany Ter Meer, each accompanied by their parents, were honored in a brief ceremony highlighting the group's achievements over their time in the program.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Averett, 3-2 (19-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-8)
Records: Methodist 14-8 overall (8-6 USA South), Averett 13-12, (9-6)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tuesday's opening set could have gone either way as the Monarchs and Cougars exchanged the lead three times and battled out of nine tie scores.
• Tied at 15-15, though, Averett went on a 5-0 spurt that created the distance it needed to finish off the set for the early lead in the match.
• Though Methodist never led, nor even pulled even, in the second set, it was not until a 4-0 run at 13-8 and a short 3-0 run at 17-10 that Averett was able to feel comfortable with the lead.
• If the first set could have gone either way, the third set was an even greater see-saw battle.
• Tied eight times and exchanging the lead seven times, Methodist and Averett battled, respectively, to stay alive or to close out the deal.
• With the Monarchs ahead at 8-7, Averett jumped in front with a 5-0 string and eventually led 13-9. Only to have Methodist put on a 6-0 run to wrest back the lead.
• Later, at 18-16, the Monarchs picked up three consecutive points to grow their cushion. Jamie Jones began the short leap on the scoreboard with a kill, followed by a block assist point from Ter Meer and Lili Henry. An Averett attacking error added another point that pushed the Methodist advantage to 21-16.
• Tasting the comeback, the Monarchs earned four of the final five points to stave off defeat. Ter Meer knocked down a kill, then notched a solo block two of the points. Megan Andrews dropped in a service ace for point 24, and Erica East clinched the set with a solo block.
• Methodist used 5-0 and 6-0 runs in the fourth set to continue their now obvious momentum that led to a six-point victory and pushed the match to a deciding fifth set.
• Way back on September 28 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the Monarchs found themselves down 2-0 to host Eastern Mennonite. Three straight set victories rallied the team from the brink of defeat, and on Tuesday it would repeat that improbable performance.
• Averett jumped ahead 3-0 at the start of the fifth, but Methodist reeled off seven unanswered points then never let the Cougars climb back into the match.

DEEPER INTO THE BOX

• Methodist had a superb outing at the net defensively, finishing with 10.0 blocks. Tapscott earned one solo and four assists, Ter Meer had a solo and two assists, East had a pair of solo blocks, and Jamie Jones came away with five block assists for a season best.
• All three seniors played large roles in the come-from-behind victory. Tapscott and Ter Meer knocked down eight kills apiece to add to their blocking totals. And Coffey came up with 19 digs, falling just two shy of her season best, while adding a pair of service aces and four set assists.
• East, for the first time in her freshman season, led the team in kills, tallying 10 on the night, second most in the match.
• Averett played a two-setter approach in the match, as Keenan Marks and McKenzie Miller assisted on 22 and 21, respectively, successful attacks. In contrast, Henry was the primary setter for the Monarchs, accumulating 32 assists on the night.
• Samantha Spooner did not step onto the court until the third set, but she picked up one kill in that pivotal set win, then put down three in the fourth to tie for the team lead, and finally added two more in the deciding fifth for a total of six kills, the most she's registered since a 12-kill night in that Eastern Mennonite rally.

BIGGER PICTURE

• Methodist sits a half-match back from third place in the league standings, having played one fewer match to date than Averett and Salem College, both with 9-6 records in the USA South East Division.
• The Monarchs have two league matches remaining -- Saturday against Greensboro College (3-10 USA South) and host William Peace (12-1). They would need help to pass Averett and Salem, but could potentially tie the two with a pair of wins on Saturday in Raleigh.

NEXT UP
Methodist steps away from conference action one final time for Wednesday's home finale against visiting Roanoke College.