GREENSBORO, N.C.  Taking on its first USA South opponent of the season, the Methodist volleyball team came up short against Greensboro College in a 3–1 defeat on Wednesday evening. The Monarchs captured the first set before dropping three consecutive sets.

Final scores: Greensboro def. Methodist, 3–1 (24–26, 25–22, 25–17, 25–13)
Records: Methodist 5–8 (0–1 USA South), Greensboro 6–2 (1–0 USA South)
Location: Hanes Gymnasium; Greensboro, North Carolina

How It Happened
The Monarchs recorded a match–high 16 kills in the first set as the teams went back and forth with each other. Methodist surged to an 11–5 advantage, but the Pride stuck close. With the score at 13–13, Savannah Hovander and Addison Johnson each recorded their third kill of the match to put the Monarchs ahead by two. As momentum shifted, Greensboro played their way to a 24–21 lead. With their backs against the wall, the Monarchs stood tall to win five straight points, which included two kills each by Hovander and Johnson.
 
After dropping the first set, the Pride showed resilience in the second set by pushing out in front to a 12–8 lead. However, Methodist took nine of the next 10 points to go up 17–13. Kills by Jamie Holton and Carlyn Tanis kept the Monarchs neck and neck with Greensboro as the Pride recovered and the teams drew even at 22–22, but the final three points all went in favor of the home team.
 
Greensboro's Kelci Brooks was hard to contain in the third set, showcased by her five kills in the team's first eight points. The Pride captured the lead early and never let go, pulling away from the Monarchs.
 
Methodist took a 6–4 lead in the fourth set after a pair of service aces for Jessie Gober contributed to a five–point run. Unfortunately for the Monarchs, the Pride found a rhythm and cruised to victory, logging 11 kills with no errors in the fourth set.

Highlights
Johnson led the Monarchs with a season–high 15 kills, while Hovander's hitting percentage of .267 was a team–best during the match for Methodist. Defensively, Railyn Fowler led the team with two solo blocks.

Up Next
Methodist will play its first home matches of the season on Saturday when the Monarchs host Brevard College and Mary Baldwin University for a USA South tri–match, taking on the Tornados at noon and the Fighting Squirrels at 4 p.m.