SALEM, Va.  One season removed from winning four matches at the Maroon Classic, the Methodist volleyball team returned to Roanoke College to face the tournament's competition once again. In a pair of games on Friday, the Monarchs earned a win over Hollins University before suffering a loss to the host Maroons.

Final scores: Methodist def. Hollins, 3–1 (22–25, 25–13, 25–7, 25–18); Roanoke def. Methodist, 3–1 (28–26, 26–24, 12–25, 25–19)
Records: Methodist 3–3, Hollins 3–2, Roanoke 3–2
Event: Maroon Classic
Host: Roanoke College
Location: Cregger Center; Salem, Virginia

Game One
The opening set featured back–and–forth runs between the two teams. Methodist won the first four points, backed by two Railyn Fowler kills. Claiming 10 of the next 12 points, Hollins soared to a 10–6 advantage. The Monarchs managed to tie the set at 12–12 but never regained the lead.

The Monarchs looked refined in the second set, jumping in front 8–2 with two service aces by Mary Miller and two more from Payten Bracey. Methodist held a lead of at least three points all the way as they logged a hitting percentage of .478 during the set.

Set No. 3 was all Monarchs as Methodist amazingly claimed 17 of the first 18 points. The team finished the set with 15 kills, led by Savannah Hovander, who had six kills along with two block assists.

Hollins attacked early in the fourth set to take the lead, but the teams played a tight set that reached a 13–13 tie. From there, the Monarchs strung together six consecutive points that included two Jamie Holton kills and a pair of Carlyn Tanis service aces. With a six–point edge, Methodist was able to sail to victory.

Game Two
Roanoke proved to be a tough opponent, which was no surprise to the Monarchs, who split with the Maroons last season in two five–set matches. Friday's match began with a set that required more than 25 points to win. The Monarchs found themselves down by four but executed five points in a row to go up 22–21. After a kill by Hovander, Fowler recorded a block to give Methodist its 25th point and force set point, but the Monarchs were unable to get the final point they needed.

Once again in the second set, Roanoke was first to reach 24 points, but an Addison Johnson kill and an ace by Tanis tied the score at 24–24. Just as before, the Maroons were able to finish the job.

Methodist found a rhythm in the third set, attacking more efficiently and defending at an elite level. Down 5–1, the Monarchs captured 11 of the next 12 points, winning three points via block. The success continued for Methodist, while Roanoke finished the set with more attack errors (12) than kills (eight).

A tight fourth set saw the score reach 20–19 in favor of Roanoke, but the Maroons ended the match with a five–point run.

Highlights
Johnson led the way for the Methodist hitters in the win over Hollins, logging 13 kills. Hovander was nearly perfect, posting 11 kills on 13 attacks. Tanis totaled a team–high 20 assists while adding 14 digs. Miller's 18 digs were the most by a member of either squad.  

In the loss to Roanoke, Holton recorded her fourth triple–double on the season, amassing 12 kills, 15 assists and 15 digs. She also contributed four services aces and two block assists in the effort.

Up Next
Methodist competes on Saturday with a match at 10 a.m. against Randolph College before concluding the Maroon Classic versus Carolina University at 2 p.m.