FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The Methodist Volleyball team celebrated its seniors on Saturday before falling to Southern Virginia University in straight sets during the team's regular–season finale. It's the first time all season that the Monarchs have been swept and also the first time they've lost a match on their home court.
 
Prior to the match, Head Coach Eddie Matthews recognized seniors Blake O'Brien, Jeanana Fowler and Jamie Holton, while also honoring graduate student Hannah Hewett.

JUST THE FACTS
Final scores: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 3-0 (26–24, 25–20, 25–14)
Records: Methodist 23–5 (14-4 USA South), Southern Virginia 19-11 (15-3 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set featured a back–and–forth battle with Carlyn Tanis earning the first points for the Monarchs. With the Knights in front early, the Monarchs put together a 10–3 run to capture a big advantage, but Southern Virginia responded by taking seven of the next ten points. Methodist logged 16 kills on the set, but the Knights were nearly flawless offensively, recording 13 kills with just one error.
• Southern Virginia captured a 7–2 lead to start the second set, prompting a Methodist timeout. The Knights won the first two points following the timeout, but the Monarchs answered with a 6–1 run. With Methodist Trailing 17–12, Jamie Holton recorded kills on three out of the next four points to reduce her team's deficit to three points, but Southern Virginia continued to push ahead, ultimately taking the set 25–20.
• With the third set tied 2–2, the Knights took any remaining wind out of Methodist's sails with an 11–point run that saw five service aces by Brookelyn Madland. The Monarchs earned just five kills in the set, which led to a match total of 32 - the team's season low for a single match.

 
MORE TO IT

• With 29 assists on the day, Hannah Hewett claimed the program record for assists in a single season, now having accumulated 1,142 assists this year.
• Jamie Holton led the team with nine kills, while Jeanana Fowler notched eight.
• Methodist struggled defensively at times, recording 14 reception errors, which is the second–most in a match this season and the most the Monarchs have recorded in a three–set match.

 
UP NEXT
Methodist has earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming USA South Tournament and will host a first-round tournament match on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. The Monarchs will welcome No. 6 seed William Peace back to the March F. Riddle Center for the first time since defeating the Pacers 3–0 this past Wednesday.