RALEIGH, N.C. After taking an early lead with a victory in the first set of Saturday's contest, the Methodist volleyball team began to fall behind at William Peace University, eventually dropping the match by a score of 3–1. The Monarchs struggled offensively down the stretch, totaling 34 attack errors and posting a hitting percentage of .044 for the match.
Final scores: William Peace def. Methodist, 3–1 (13–25, 25–19, 25–13, 25–22)
Records: Methodist 10–13 (5–6 USA South), William Peace 9–12 (2–7 USA South)
Location: Hermann Athletic Center; Raleigh, North Carolina
How It Happened
The Monarchs looked strong to start the match, using a 10–point run (with three
Carlyn Tanis service aces) to take a 13–4 lead in the first set. While attack errors piled on for William Peace,
Savannah Hovander added a pair of aces to the count as she helped push Methodist to a big set win and a 1–0 advantage.
With momentum entering the second set, the Monarchs blazed ahead to a 5–1 lead after a pair of kills by
Addison Johnson. A run by the Pacers tied the score at 7–7 before the hosts eventually overtook the visitors, surging way ahead with a 17–11 difference. Methodist finished the set with 14 kills to William Peace's 13, but the hole was too deep to dig out of.
The Pacers made few mistakes to start the third while capitalizing on the errors by Methodist, taking a 10–5 lead that forced the Monarchs to use a timeout. Methodist burned another timeout with William Peace up 19–11, but the Pacers didn't slow down, claiming six of the final eight points in set three.
Things didn't go much better for the Monarchs in the fourth set, with William Peace quickly assuming an 8–2 advantage. Methodist pulled within three points after winning three in a row to make the score 17–14, but the Pacers responded with a three–point run of their own. After taking a timeout, the Monarchs found a second wind and claimed nine of the next 12 points (including two kills for
Railyn Fowler) to tie the score at 20–20. However the comeback fell short as the Pacers won the race to 25.
Highlights
Johnson led the team with 12 kills, while
Charleigh Anne Hewett notched her sixth double–double of the season with 28 assists and 10 digs.
Mary Miller's 26 digs were a season high and matched her collegiate best, which she previously recorded at Washington College.
Up Next
The Monarchs return home for their next match — a 7 p.m. first serve against North Carolina Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
