FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  In the team's final match of the regular season, the Methodist women's volleyball team fell short against Southern Virginia University, losing to the Knights, 3-2. The Monarchs found victory in the first set as well as the fourth, but they were unable to secure the match win.

Prior to the match, seniors Hannah Hewett, Carrie Jordan and Aniyah Tate were recognized and honored for their contributions to the Methodist volleyball program.

JUST THE FACTS
Final scores: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 3-2 (19-25, 32-30, 25-20, 22-25, 15-9)
Records: Methodist 16-9 (11-7 USA South), Southern Virginia 15-16 (11-7)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs fell behind early, trailing 8-4 before a three-point run (with kills by Jeanana Fowler and Aniyah Tate) pulled them to within one. Down 12-9, Methodist answered with three-straight points again, with a kill from Savannah Hovander and two by Tate. The teams battled tightly to a 20-19 Monarch advantage, then five-straight points for Methodist gave the Monarchs the set win.
• The Knights opened the second set by winning the first four points. Methodist answered with three of its own, then fought to a 7-6 lead as Mahala Carter notched two kills in the effort. With Methodist up 15-12, SVU took seven of the next nine to go ahead, 19-17. Methodist briefly reclaimed its lead, but the Knights surged to a 24-22 advantage. With their backs against the wall, the Monarchs took the next three to reach 25 first, but neither team would go down easy, exchanging one-point leads before Southern Virginia's Sydney Bassett finally ended the set with back-to-back kills for a 32-30 SVU win.
• The Monarchs held an advantage early in the third set, with Fowler recording a service ace that inflated Methodist's lead to 10-6. The Knights claimed eight of the next ten points to push ahead, 14-12, then after Methodist tied the score at 14-14, SVU recorded five more points to give the Knights a 19-14 lead. The five-point lead was enough cushion to carry the Knights to victory in the third set.
• Southern Virginia opened the fourth set with a 5-1 advantage before recording three errors to allow Methodist back within one. With the Knights up 12-8, the Monarchs took four-straight points, including two kills by Hovander and one by Tate, to tie things up at 12-12. Another four-point run shortly after – which saw two kills by Fowler, one by Carter and another for Hovander – gave Methodist an 18-15 lead. The Monarchs maintained the lead and Hovander recorded a final kill to give Methodist a 25-22 set win, forcing a fifth set.
• Again, Southern Virginia jumped out in front, taking a 4-1 lead. Methodist fought back, tying the set at 7-7 after a Fowler kill, Fowler service ace, and a kill by Hovander. From there, the Knights won eight out of ten to cruise to victory.

MORE TO IT

• Aniyah Tate led the team with a career-high 17 kills, topping her previous best of 15 that she recorded in the team's previous match at N.C. Wesleyan.
• Senior setter Hannah Hewett led the team with 49 assists.
• Libero Blake O'Brien led the team with 24 digs, followed by Hewett, who had 17.

UP NEXT
Methodist will compete in the first round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday. The Monarchs will be the 6-seed and will travel to Buena Vista, Va. for a rematch with 3-seed Southern Virginia. The time for the match is TBA.