FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Saturday marked the long-awaited home debut of Methodist's women's volleyball team, a squad displaced to the road because of Hurricane Florence.

Hosting a USA South Athletic Conference tri-match, the Monarchs played their debut at the Riddle Center with style, sweeping visiting Greensboro College in the tri-match opener, surrendering the lead just four times in their 3-0 win.

After Greensboro lost to William Peace University in the middle match of the day, Methodist tried to continue its early momentum against William Peace but eventually fell to the Pacers, 3-1, in earning a tri-match split.

JUST THE FACTS
Final results: Methodist def. Greensboro, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-18); William Peace def. Greensboro, 3-0; William Peace def. Methodist, 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-20)
Records: Methodist 9-6 (2-4 USA South), Greensboro 2-15 (1-7 USAS), William Peace 13-5 (7-1 USAS)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs shook off some home nerves in the opening set of the day, working through six ties and three of the match's four lead changes before taking the opener by eight points.
• In that first set, Methodist posted an attack percentage of .414 from 17 kills against just five attack errors.
• The second set was really never in doubt. Four early tied were inconsequential in the set as Methodist pulled away for a victory that pushed the match score to 2-0 in the home team's favor.
• The culminating set was even less dramatic than the second. The Pride did their best to stay close, but could never overcome the growing confidence of the Monarchs.
• Brittany Ter Meer and Megan Andrews, with 14 and 10 kills, respectively, led all players on the attack in the match.
• Lili Henry registered 27 of the 35 set assists for the Monarchs, who also picked up five service aces including three from Maddie Barga.
• The defense had a solid outing against the Pride, allowing Greensboro a paltry .143 attack percentage while accumulating one solo block and six block assists, as well as 44 digs, including 14 from Alyssa Coffey and 10 from Megan Andrews.
• The positive momentum continued into the final match of the afternoon as Methodist topped William Peace by six points to break out in front on the match scoreboard.
• The turning point of the match, however, might just have been the middle points of the second set when, seeking to go up 2-0 in the match, Methodist led 19-8 before the Pacers would rally with a 12-0 run in an eventual 25-23 win.
• Methodist never led in the third set but responded with a strong opening of the fourth game, taking leads at 3-1 and 7-6. A three-point run by the Pacers at that second lead would change the flavor of the match as William Peace never trailed again.
• Still, with their backs to the wall in that final set the Monarchs rallied back from a 23-16 deficit with five consecutive points before the Pacers would ice the set and match.
• Ter Meer and Eric East each posted 11 kills to lead Methodist on the attack.
• Andrews, with 17, Henry, with 12, and Coffey's 9 digs would help lift the defense.

UP NEXT
Methodist will host Salem College at the Riddle Center on Wednesday in another USA South match.