MISENHEIMER, N.C.  Methodist turned the tables on host Pfeiffer University Wednesday evening in Merner Gym, sweeping the Falcons, 3-0, in a USA South Athletic Conference volleyball match to reverse the score of the season's previous bout between the two teams on October 1.

The Monarchs never trailed in the match and had to battle out of only two tie scores on their way to the quick victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Pfeiffer, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-15)
Records: Methodist 5-15 (4-8 USA South), Pfeiffer 12-11 (3-8)
Location: Merner Gym; Misenheimer, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist could hardly have gotten off to a better start, reeling off 10 unanswered points to begin the opening set. The Falcons had seen enough and called a timeout after the score had reached 6-0, but the break didn't help as four more points were rung up on the scoreboard before Pfeiffer could register its first of the night.
• The Falcons did claw their way back into the set but it was not enough and too late after Methodist's dominating start.
• Set number two was 4-0 in favor of Methodist before Pfeiffer would score a point, but a side-out kill from Geneva Barriger followed by another Barriger knock down increased the margin to 6-1.
• Mid-set, Pfeiffer went on a 6-1 run itself to knot the score at 14-14, but the Monarchs responded with a 4-0 run to wrest back the lead then later finished off the set on another 4-0 streak.
• Having fought off a match-taking set in its last outing -- a 3-2 come-from-behind victory at N.C. Wesleyan -- Methodist knew enough to not pick its foot up off the gas in the third set. Barriger opened the set with a kill, but Pfeiffer drew even on a Monarch service error. Megan Andrews knocked down one of her 14 kills on the night to re-take the lead, followed by a Maddie Barga service ace and a Pfeiffer attacking error that provided Methodist with a 4-1 advantage.
• That advantage never wavered after that and the Monarchs would go on to claim their third match sweep of the season.

MONARCH NUMBERS

• Methodist has registered three of its five victories by 3-0 sweeps this season.
• The Monarchs dominated every statistical category on the night, first and foremost with 42 kills in the match, doubling up Pfeiffer's total. Methodist finished the night with a .220 attack percentage while the Falcons were held to a paltry .037 success rate.
• Part of that attack percentage advantage was via a 53-42 edge in digs. Three Monarchs reached double figures in that column, led by 12 from Alyssa Wrench. Both Barga and Andrews added 10 digs each, and Riley Adair just missed making it a quartet with 8 digs during the victory.
• With her 14 kills, Andrews was the only player to reach double digits in the match, but Erica East and Barriger chimed in with 8 apiece, and Wrench totaled 7 on the night.
• Lili Henry was the assists leader in the match, propping up 20 for the Methodist attack.
• Serves and serve receives were also a key on the night. Methodist dropped in eight service aces and registered just one serve receive error, as Adair took over the team lead in service aces for the season (39) with four during the win over the Falcons.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs will travel to Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia, for a conference tri-match Saturday with the host Fighting Squirrels and the Avenging Angels of Meredith College.
• Pfeiffer and William Peace University will play a league tri-match Saturday at host Averett University.