FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  On Saturday, Methodist University welcomed conference foes Brevard College and Mary Baldwin University to the March F. Riddle Center for the lone USA South Tri-Match the Monarchs will this season. Methodist swept both opposing squads to improve to 22-4, which is the most victories by any Eddie Matthews-led team.

Final scores: Methodist def. Brevard, 3–0 (25–18, 25–19, 25–12); Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 3–0 (25–11, 25–12, 25–12)
Records: Methodist 22–4 (13-3 USA South), Brevard 14–11 (6-9), Mary Baldwin 2–22 (0-16)
Event: USA South Tri-Match
Host: Methodist University
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
 
GAME ONE

• Kills by Jamie Holton, Savannah Hovander, Carlyn Tannis, and Jeanana Fowler help Methodist create an 8-3 lead in the first set. Brevard would manage to crawl back to tie, 11-11, before taking a one-point advantage, 14-13. Five of the next six points favored the Monarchs to put them back up by three, 18-15, but then two consecutive points by the Tornados brought them back to within one again. That was the closest Brevard got to Methodist for the rest of the set, as the Monarchs registered seven of the last eight points to take the opening game.
• The second set was a see-saw battle, as neither side could gain momentum. Midway through, Methodist started to solidify control, thanks to a 7-2 run, which put the Monarchs up 18-14. After a three-point swing got the Tornados within one, the Methodist hitters went on a tear to end the set with six of the last seven points being kills, including five by Fowler.
• Set three was a lop-sided affair, with the Monarchs jumping out to a 19-6 advantage. Along the way, the young duo of Hovander and Tannis shined as the two combined for six kills and a pair of blocks. The back half of the set saw the two teams trade points before sisters Jeanana and Railyn Fowler registered the final two Methodist kills.

GAME TWO

• Even after sitting around for a couple of hours to observe the in-between match, the Monarchs came out on fire in their first set against Mary Baldwin. An early 9-2 lead by Methodist was gradually increased for the entirety of the set before the Monarchs finished it off with a 4-1 run. Of the 25 points recorded, 17 came via a kill by Methodist.
• Potentially caught up on their success in the previous set, the Monarchs were a little dazed to begin game two as the Fighting Squirrels took a 6-4 advantage. Methodist quickly got its act together and produced a 9-0 run to get back in front, helping write the ship was Holton, who recorded three kills. The teams exchanged the next several points until the Monarchs ended the set on an 8-2 run.
• Similar to the last set, Methodist found itself climbing out of an early hole, 6-4, once again. The Monarchs were able to score nine of the next ten points to get out of it and take a 13-7 advantage, with kills by Hovander (1), J. Fowler (2), R. Fowler (2), and Madyson Loberger (1) during that stretch. With firm control of the lead, Methodist continued its ruthless attack on its way to another sweep.

MORE TO IT

• Against the Fighting Squirrels, the Monarchs finished the match with a .500 attack percentage, which is a team season-high.
• Jeanana Fowler was the only Methodist player to record double-digit kills in both matches, with 13 and 10, respectively.
• Hannah Hewtt fell just shy of two double-doubles today. In the first game, she registered 33 assists and 18 digs and then followed that up with 30 assists and seven digs during the second match.

UP NEXT
With only two matches left in the regular season, Methodist is home on Wednesday, November 6, as the Monarchs host William Peace University in a USA South bout. The opening serve is scheduled for 7 PM.