WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.  After winning the first two sets, Methodist lost the third and fourth set before pulling out a USA South Athletic Conference victory over host Salem College, on Wednesday night in Varsity Gym.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Salem, 3-2 (25-8, 25-11, 23-25, 23-25, 15-8)
Records: Methodist 12-16 (4-12 USA So.), Meredith 0-21 (0-15)
Location: Varsity Gym; Winston-Salem, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs cruised in their first two sets of the night before finding some trouble in the third set.
• For the first time in all three sets, Methodist faced a multi-point deficit early in the match. They eventually tied at 6-6 but an 8-1 run by the Spirits made it 14-7. Though the Monarchs fought to get back within one, 24-23, Salem took the set with the next point.
• Majority of the third set was a tightly contested bout, as there were 10 different moments where it was a tied set. Methodist did not get their first lead until it was 19-18. The Spirits eventually used a 5-0 run to help take the penultimate set.
• With everything going Salem's way in the last two sets, the Monarchs had to find a way to turn the match in their favor. They would do just that when tied 3-3 by scoring the next seven points to take a 10-3 advantage. That final push was enough for Methodist to claim the set and match.

MATCH NOTES

• Jeanana Fowler paced the Monarchs with a season-high 21 kills. In addition, posting double-digit kills were Geneva Barriger and Erica East, with respectively 17 and 15.
• Setting a new career-high in set assists was sophomore Hannah Hewett (59), which was also the match-high.
• Three different Methodist player recorded double-digit digs, with Janie Harmelink having a match-high 27.

UP NEXT

• Methodist plays in its final USA South tri-match of the season when they travel to Raleigh, N.C. to play William Peace University and Greensboro College.
• Salem goes on the road this Thursday to play a USA South match against William Peace.