MISENHEIMER, N.C.  A little match-play rust was evident in the early going Tuesday, but in the end it was a 3-1 road victory for Methodist in its USA South Conference opener at Pfeiffer University.

Brittany Ter Meer and Jasmine Tapscott both reached double digits in kills for the Monarchs, who also played a strong game at the net defensively by accumulating 13 blocks.

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence preempted two weeks of practice and competitions for Methodist, which got back together on the court for its first practice just one day prior to the Tuesday match.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Methodist def. Pfeifer, 3-1 (28-26, 27-29, 25-19, 25-19)
Records: Methodist 6-2 overall, 1-0 USA South; Pfeiffer 5-7, 1-2
Location: Merner Gym, Misenheimer, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Though the fourth set was the deciding set, and by the same score as the third, a turnaround when trailing 10-9 in the third -- after dropping the second set -- was perhaps the most impactful sequence.
• A 5-0 run flipped the deficit into a 14-10 lead, and the Monarchs never let the Falcons close the gap any narrower than a two-point deficit for the remainder of the third game.
• The defensive play from Methodist over the final two sets hindered Pfeiffer's attack so severely that the Falcons struck for a negative attack percentage in both games.
• The opening set required a comeback from the Monarchs. Pfeiffer came back from a 3-1 deficit to take the lead four consecutive points, then maintained a lead until Methodist's Erica East knocked down a kill to tie the score at 22-22. The set would be several more times until Samantha Spooner's kill finished off the late rally for Methodist.
• Ter Meer topped all players in points (16.0_ with 14 kills, a service ace and a pair of block assists.
• Not far behind was Tapscott who came away with 10 kills, four digs and a match-best four blocks on two solos and two block assists. That combination added up to 13 points.
• Spooner came up with nine digs but also added nine kills, a solo block and two block assists (11.0 pts.).
• Leading the Monarchs at floor level was Megan Andrews with 13 digs. She also dropped in a pair of service aces.
• Lili Henry set up the attack with a career-high and match-best 40 set assists. She also contributed 9 digs, 1 kill, 1 block assist and 2 service aces -- including at match point.

PFEIFFER PFACTS

• The Falcons got 14 kills and a total of 15.0 points from Bri Weber and 12 kills and 13.0 points from Alonna Clouse, but only four other players earned kills in the match, combining for just 16 in the loss.
• Defensive net play from Pfeiffer couldn't match Methodist's as the home team combined for only six block assists, three of those from Madison Kuehl.

BEYOND THE STATS

• The series between the two teams is not a long one. Tuesday's victory ups Methodist's advantage to 5-1.
• The second-set victory by the Falcons was their first game win against the Monarchs since 2016, a 3-1 Methodist win. Last season the Monarchs swept two matches by identical 3-0 scores.

NEXT UP

• The two teams will meet again for a USA South match in Fayetteville on October 17.
• Methodist travels to Eastern Mennonite for a non-conference match on Friday.
• Pfeiffer travels to Averett on Friday to square off in a league bout.