FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist volleyball trailed visiting Pfeiffer two sets to none in the last of three USA South Athletic Conference matches Saturday in the Riddle Center, but the Monarchs got off the mat to square the match at two sets apiece only to fall four points short of coming all the way back in a 3-2 loss to the Falcons.

The opening match of the day saw visiting Averett take a 3-1 decision from Methodist, followed by a 3-0 sweep by Averett over Pfeiffer in the middle bout of the afternoon.

JUST THE FACTS
Final scores: Averett def. Methodist, 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16); Averett def. Pfeiffer, 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-19); Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 3-2 (25-13, 25-18, 19-25, 20-25, 15-11)
Records: Methodist 9-14 (1-10 USA South), Averett 18-5 (9-3), Pfeiffer 16-6 (6-4)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist had taken the first set against Averett but lost tight battles in the next three sets in falling to the Cougars.
• Perhaps there was a hangover from the early defeat in starting the match against Pfeiffer as the Monarchs were out of sorts in surrendering the opening set to the Falcons by a 12-point margin.
• Despite the final score of the second set, effort and results from the Monarchs began to show themselves in the set. Especially during a late surge that chopped into a seven-point Pfeiffer advantage (21-14) with Methodist scoring four of the next five points before the Falcons would finally manage to hold off their challengers.
• The Monarchs trailed only once in the third set (10-9) but otherwise outplayed Pfeiffer, fending off one last threat when the Falcons drew within one at 20-19 by scoring five unanswered for the set victory.
• That late string began with a kill from Erica East, was extended by two from Jeanana Fowler, and finished by East with a pair of service aces.
• Early action in the fourth set looked as if it might be the deciding set for Pfeiffer as the Falcons broke out to an 11-2 lead, smelling victory.
• Not so fast, said the Monarchs. An 8-2 run -- that included two kills from Kendall Craig, two from Fowler and two from East -- flipped the momentum.
• Though Pfeiffer would score two straight for a 15-11 lead, the Monarch attack was now back in gear as it wrested the lead away with a 6-0 run. Methodist never trailed after that, closing out the set and evening the match with the final four points in a five-point win.
• The magic wore off in the early moments of the deciding fifth set, however, as Pfeiffer scored the first seven points. Methodist valiantly clawed back into the set, inching its way to within two points at 13-11, but the Falcons got a kill from Reagan Wyatt for the penultimate point of the match, and a service ace from Emma Gray Beacham that ticked the tape and dropped to the floor for match point.

MATCH NOTES

• Craig recorded 12 kills against Averett, but her towering defense at the net is what stood out. She registered three solo blocks and seven block assists for a virtuosa defensive effort. Her 18.5 points led Methodist during the loss.
• Fowler's 15 kills against Pfeiffer were a match high, as was the 20.0 points she contributed with two solo and four block assist, and a service ace to go along with her attacking numbers.
• East collected five kills and three block assists against Averett, but nearly tripled her attacking numbers in the Pfeiffer match with 14 kills. She also added three service aces, 10 digs and a block assist.
• Hannah Hewett was the key distributor for the Monarch attack. She dished out 33 set assist in the opening match, then added a match-best 49 against Pfeiffer. Her 21 digs in the Averett bout was also a team high.
• Janie Harmelink continues to have a productive first season as the full-time Libero. The senior's 20 digs against Averett was the seventh time this season she's racked up at least 20 in a match, and her eighth time -- with 30 against Pfeiffer -- was a new career high.

UP NEXT

• Methodist heads back to the Riddle court Monday at 7 p.m. in a conference match against visiting Salem College.
• Averett is scheduled to play Eastern Mennonite University Tuesday in a non-conference match while Pfeiffer visits William Peace University the same night for a USA South contest.