SALEM, Va. Methodist volleyball worked overtime Friday in a pair of set wins during a pair of non-conference matches at the Maroon Classic, but the Monarchs were unable to capture either match victory, falling 3-2 to Randolph College in the early match and then getting tripped up 3-1 by host Roanoke College in the final match of the evening.

Geneva Barriger and Jeanana Fowler led the attack for Methodist on the day, each accumulating 21 kills apiece across the two defeats.

JUST THE FACTS
Final scores: Randolph def. Methodist, 3-2 (19-25, 25-17, 28-30, 25-22, 15-8); Roanoke def. Methodist, 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-11, 25-15)
Records: Methodist 3-4, Randolph 3-1, Roanoke 3-4
Event: Maroon Classic
Host: Roanoke College
Location: Bast Center; Salem, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first match with Randolph was nip and tuck through four sets, with each team winning two games.
• Methodist trailed 4-2 in the first set but used a 6-0 spurt to grab the lead. The advantage grew to as many as eight points before the Monarchs registered a six-point set win.
• Set two reversed those results, with Randolph using an early 6-0 run to seize control before winning by eight, though the Monarchs did close to within three points four times late.
• The set of the day came in the third as Methodist and Randolph battled through 11 ties and 10 lead changes. Each team had three set-point opportunities, but the third time was the charm for the Monarchs as they fought off Randolph's set point at 28-27 to grab the next three points for the 30-28 set victory.
• Randolph bounced back to take the fourth by a narrow three-point margin before taking control in the deciding fifth with a 5-0 run midway through in its eventual seven-point set win to capture the match.
• Undeterred by the ending of their early match, the Monarchs rallied from a 23-20 deficit in the first set against Roanoke, tying the score at 23. The Maroons won the next point to set up a set-point opportunity only to surrender a tying point. Ellie Atkins knocked down a kill for Methodist to inch ahead by one, and a Roanoke attack error sealed the set victory for Methodist.
• Roanoke broke free from a 14-14 tie in the second set to eventually win 25-20, then rolled past the Monarchs in sets three and four to earn the match victory.

MORE TO IT

• Fowler rang up 15 kills during the Randolph match and was joined in double figures by Barriger (13) and Kendall Craig (12).
• Defense at the net was also solid against the WildCats. Craig finished with a solo block and five block assists, while Fowler added a solo and four block assists. Methodist finished the bout with 11.0 blocks.
• While Randolph's six service aces weren't an earth-shattering total, the WildCats holding Methodist to just one service ace was an effective stop against one of the Monarchs' usual strengths.
• The attack was just unable to get on track in the Roanoke match. Methodist finished the four-setter with a .019 attack percentage, compared to a robust .266 by the Maroons.
• The serve, however, did find its way back on track against Roanoke. Hannah Hewett dropped down four aces, Barriger added two, and Harmelink and Atkins had one each for a total of eight in the match.
• Defensive net play was a wash as both teams ended the match with 7.0 total blocks.

UP NEXT
Methodist continues action at the Classic on Saturday, taking on Ferrum College at 10 a.m. and Hollins University at 2 p.m. in a pair of non-conference matches.