ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. Methodist volleyball competed in four intense matches with host N.C. Wesleyan on Tuesday night, overcoming the challenge with a 3-1 victory for the team's second USA South Athletic Conference win.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 26-24)
Records: Methodist 7-6 (2-2 USA So.), N.C. Wesleyan 4-9 (1-3)
Location: Everett Gym; Rocky Mount, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It took the Monarchs a minute to get in the groove of things as the Battling Bishops held the lead through most of the first set until an attack error made for an 11-11 tie.
- Another attack error for N.C. Wesleyan gave the Monarchs their first lead of the game at 14-13, which pushed Methodist to their first victory of the night.
- Though Methodist dropped the second set, it did force four lead changes and forged a tie score on nine occasions.
- Jeanana Fowler's back-to-back kills gave Methodist a 7-5 lead over the Battling Bishops in the third set. The Monarchs extended their lead to 21-13 but N.C. Wesleyan regrouped and battled back to tie it 22-22. At 23 all, Methodist's Alexis O'Neal and Fowler came in cutch, knocking down hits to pull the Monarchs ahead with a 2-1 set advantage.
- Trailing again for majority of the fourth set, Fowler brought Methodist back on top with two kills. The game extended into extra points after being tied at 24-24. Carrie Jordan's ace serve put the Monarchs ahead by one and in the next play, a mistake by the Battling Bishops would end the set to give Methodist the overall victory.
MORE TO IT
- Geneva Barriger was a beast on the attack for Methodist, leading the match with 19 kills.
- Fowler and Leann Sessoms also reached double digits in kills, Fowler with 15 and Sessoms with 10.
- Four Monarchs reached double figures in digs, with Hannah Hewett leading with 19, Aniyah Tate and Geneva Barriger adding 15 and Julia Mundy with a season-high 14. Hewett also dished out 50 set assists.
- Methodist out hit N.C. Wesleyan just slightly by 53-52 but the Battling Bishops 31 hitting errors to the Monarchs 22 is what gave Methodist the advantage.
UP NEXT
- Methodist hosts a USA South tri-match at the March F. Riddle Center on Saturday, October 1 against Greensboro College, and Meredith College at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.
- N.C. Wesleyan takes on Mid-Atlantic Christian on Thursday evening in a non-conference bout.