SALEM, Va.  The opening day of the Maroon Classic went about as well as one could have hoped for Methodist's women's volleyball team as the Monarchs swept through non-conference matches against Randolph College and Ferrum College on Friday, led by Brittany Ter Meer's 25 kills and Jasmine Tapscott's 12 kills and 11 blocks.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Scores: Methodist def. Randolph, 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-23); Methodist def. Ferrum, 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-16)
Records: Methodist 4-1 overall, Randolph 0-6 overall, Ferrum 3-2 overall
Event: Maroon Classic, hosted by Roanoke College
Location: Salem, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist never trailed after a 14-13 lead in the opening set against Randolph, then raced through the second set before rallying midway through the third for the sweep.
• In that deciding third set the Monarchs trailed 12-11 but scored seven of the next 11 points to take command, finally getting the match-deciding point on a kill by Erica East.
• There were only a few times in which Methodist trailed Ferrum in the late match.
• After breaking free from a 10-10 deadlock in the opening set, the Monarchs carried a 19-15 advantage into the late stages of the match, finishing off the set by scoring the final six points.
• Bouncing back from a 20-17 deficit in the second, Methodist reeled off an 8-1 run to move within a game of a sweep.
• Ferrum led 5-2 in the third, but wasn't able to hold off the Monarchs who went up 10-5 then never trailed again, scoring six of the final seven points to complete the double-dip sweep.
• Ter Meer knocked down 16 kills in the Randolph match then pounded out 25 kills against the Panthers in the nightcap.
• Tapscott contributed 12 kills on the day as well as a service ace, but it was her defensive prowess at the net that stood out. The senior middle blocker came away with a pair of solo blocks and added nine block assists to lead the Monarchs.
• Lili Henry continues to adeptly set up the Methodist attack. She accumulated 16 kills in the opening match before nearly doubling that total at night with 31 set assists.
• East is growing into her roll as a freshman outside hitter, finishing Friday with 10 kills, two set assists and 26 digs.
• Megan Andrews came off the floor with 12 digs in the opening match then added 19 more in the second to lead the team across its sweep.

BEYOND THE STATS

• Methodist played Randolph for the third season in a row. In 2016 the Wildcats won a 3-2 nail-biter at the Lynchburg Invitational, but last season the Monarchs earned a 3-1 victory at the Maroon Classic.
• One of Saturday's opponents, Hollins University, is also a repeat from last year at the Classic. Methodist won the match-up, 3-0, in 2017 but Hollins enters Sunday with a 5-0 record, opening the day against Piedmont College before squaring off against the Monarchs.

UP NEXT

• Methodist plays Bridgewater College, which swept the Monarchs during last season's Classic, in a Sunday opener, before taking on Hollins at 5 p.m.