WINSTON–SALEM, N.C. Another intense battle between two USA South opponents saw the Methodist volleyball team come up short against Salem College on Thursday evening. Playing away from home, the Monarchs comfortably claimed victory in the first set before conceding the next three sets to the Spirits.
Final scores: Salem def. Methodist, 3–1 (19–25, 25–23, 25–23, 25-16)
Records: Methodist 8–10 (3–3 USA South), Salem 14–3 (4–1 USA South)
Location: Athletics Complex; Winston–Salem, North Carolina
How It Happened
Methodist got off to a great start with an opening set win against the Spirits. Back-to-back kills by
Addison Johnson and
Jamie Holton gave the Monarchs a 10–5 advantage, and they refused to relinquish the lead. With her team up 19–13,
Savannah Hovander earned a kill on five of Methodist's final six points.
Playing from behind in the second set, the Monarchs turned a 7–1 deficit into a 13–11 lead after a run that included three kills for Holton, one kill from
Railyn Fowler, a kill and an ace by
Carlyn Tanis and a kill and an ace by Johnson. Methodist's lead grew to four points as the score reached 18–14, but Salem rattled off six straight to retake the lead. The Monarchs tied the score at 20–20, then dropped the next two points. A kill by Fowler was followed by consecutive aces from
Mary Miller, giving Methodist a 23–22 edge. However, the Spirits capture three points in a row to win the set.
The Monarchs held a 9–6 lead in the third set before a five–point run gave Salem the momentum. Methodist fought to hang within a point or two for the rest of the set, but just couldn't get over the hump, falling 25–23. In the fourth set, the home team raced out to a 7–2 lead, and a Methodist timeout wouldn't slow down the energy for the Spirits. They soon possessed a nine–point advantage (15–6) that continued to grow as Salem outpaced Methodist to a 25–16 victory to clinch the match. The Monarchs matched the Spirits in kills (12) during the fourth set, but 10 attack errors greatly outweighed Salem's four.
Highlights
Prior to the last set, the Monarchs actually committed fewer attack errors each set than the Spirits. Methodist ended the match with 20, compared to Salem's 23.
Methodist's hitting percentage (.199) was just a few ticks below Salem's (.207) for the match, and was weighed down by the final set in which the Monarchs had a .050 efficiency. Methodist's hitting percentage in third set (.282) was significantly better than Salem's (.220) despite the Spirits claiming a win in that set.
Holton led both squads with 17 kills, while Miller led Methodist in the digs department with 24 and
Charleigh Anne Hewett executed the setter's duties almost flawlessly, totaling 37 assists with just one setting error. Also at setter,
Faith Driver saw her first action as a Monarch, tallying three assists in the final set.
Up Next
The Monarchs are at home on Saturday when they host the William Peace University Pacers at 1 p.m.
