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Methodist University Athletics

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VB v Salem Craig
DAngelo Tappin
3
Winner Salem (NC) Salem 5-5
1
Methodist METHU 1-7
Winner
Salem (NC) Salem
5-5
3
Final
1
Methodist METHU
1-7
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Salem (NC) Salem 25 25 24 25 (3)
Methodist METHU 21 21 26 21 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson

Salem Holds Off Monarch Challenge

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist volleyball turned in a gritty performance in its USA South Athletic Conference opener against visiting Salem College Wednesday night in the Riddle Center, but it was the Spirits that came away with the victory in four, extremely tight, sets.

With a live and energetic fan base steering them, the Monarchs battled Salem to the wire for every point and every set as Methodist refused to be counted out. In particular, the third set was a thing of beauty as the Monarchs rallied from 24-20 deficit to force a fourth set. Unfortunately, the Spirits won each of the other three sets each by identical scores of 25-21 to earn the victory.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: Salem def. Methodist, 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 25-21)
Records: Methodist 1-8 (0-1 USA South), Salem 5-5 (1-0 USAS)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Savannah Mullis. Service ace. Service ace. Service ace. Service ace. That is how the Monarchs spectacularly rallied to finish the third set 26-24. As a team, Methodist registered 15 service aces, the most since October 2017.
  • Trailing 24-20, Geneva Barriger and Megan Andrews earned consecutive kills before Mullis delivered with those four service aces to stun Salem. Previously, Methodist had been trailing by as many as eight points (19-11 score).
  • Salem used a 7-0 run to take a 11-5 lead in the fourth set but the Monarchs battled back, cutting the deficit to scores of 12-10 and 16-14 before Alyssa Wrench put Methodist within one, trailing 19-18. Later, a kill by Andrews made it a 22-21 game before the Spirits earned the final three points to win the game.
  • The second set saw the two teams swap the lead several times before Salem used a 8-1 run to cap a 25-21 victory. Kaeli Ryan registered Methodist's lone point in that span, a kill to make it a 22-21 game. 
  • It was a similar recipe in the first set as the two teams traded points back-and-forth before the Spirits found themselves with a 20-15 lead en route to winning the first set. And yet, the Monarchs showed resolve when a kill by Barriger slashed the deficit to 22-20 to put the Monarchs within two.

STAT FACTS
  • Andrews' 12 kills and 14 digs were both team-highs. Barriger was second on the team with six kills.
  • Mullis and Lili Henry had identical stat lines of 15 assists (team-high) and 10 digs (second).
  • Mullis finished the night with six service aces and Maddie Barga added four more on the record day.
  • Taylor Moulton led Salem with a game-high 13 kills.

UP NEXT
  • Methodist is back in the Riddle Center Saturday, Sep. 28 in a USA South tri-match against Averett University at 12 p.m. and N.C. Wesleyan at 4 p.m.
  • Salem hosts a conference tri-match of their own Saturday, battling Mary Baldwin at 12 p.m. and William Peace at 4 p.m.
    
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