SALEM, Va.  The Methodist volleyball team soundly picked up two victories on Saturday to finish out the 2025 Maroon Classic with a 3–1 record. The Monarchs swept Randolph College before earning a 3–1 win over Carolina University.

Final scores: Methodist def. Randolph, 3–0 (25–23, 25–20, 25–19); Methodist def. Carolina, 3–1 (25–23, 23–25, 25–23, 25–20)
Records: Methodist 5–3, Randolph 1–5, Carolina 3–3
Event: Maroon Classic
Host: Roanoke College
Location: Cregger Center; Salem, Virginia

Game One
After conceding the first point to Randolph, Methodist took the next five and continued to forge ahead to a 9–4 lead with three early kills contributed by Jamie Holton. Holton amassed five of the team's 12 kills in the set, helping the Monarchs grow their lead to a score of 24–17. Six consecutive points won by Randolph suddenly put the backs of the Monarchs against the wall, but they benefited from a service error to escape with a win in the first set.
 
Addison Johnson earned the first two kills for Methodist in the second set, followed by a pair of kills from Mahala Carter. Head coach Eddie Matthews chose to call a timeout with his team trailing 12–9, and the Monarchs responded well by winning seven of the next nine points. With Randolph keeping it close, the Monarchs led 21–20 before claiming a final four points in a row.
 
Methodist controlled the third set all the way, totaling 17 kills from six different individuals. Hovander led the set with five, while Johnson, Carlyn Tanis and Railyn Fowler each tallied three.

Game Two
Methodist's opening set against Carolina was neck and neck. A kill by Johnson tied the score at 15–15, but the Bruins soon possessed a 20–16 advantage. With Carolina ahead 23–21, the Monarchs rattled off four straight points (including two kills by Fowler) to take the set.
 
Set two seemed to be all Bruins as Carolina distanced themselves from Methodist with a 14–3 lead. However, the resilient Monarchs clawed their way back to draw even with their opponent at 21–21. Holton logged a kill to give Methodist a 23–22 advantage, but this time Carolina took care of business with three points in a row to tie the match 1–1.
 
The Monarchs trailed for a large portion of the third set, fighting from behind to stay within a few points of the Bruins. Carolina's lead reached five points on multiple occasions, including an 18–13 advantage. Methodist caught fire at that point in time, surging to the lead by winning nine of the next 10 points. The run allowed the Monarchs to finish the set strong and go up 2-1.
 
With the fourth set tied 9–9, Carolina claimed seven of the next eight points to take a 16–10 lead. Eight of the next nine points went to Methodist, putting the Monarchs in front 18–17. With the pressure on, the Monarchs stood tall and finished the set on top, taking the final point on a kill by Johnson, who ended the set with five.

Highlights
Hovander and Johnson led the Monarchs with nine kills each in the win over Randolph, while Holton had a big outing against Carolina with a team–high 17 kills and a career–high 24 assists. Mary Miller tallied 14 digs in the first match before outdoing herself with 21 in the second match.

Up Next
The Monarchs will prepare for their trip to Texas where they'll take on Schreiner University and LeTourneau University on Friday, Sept. 12, then face Hardin–Simmons University and tournament host University of Mary Hardin–Baylor on Saturday, Sept. 13. Those four matches will wrap up the non–conference portion of Methodist's schedule.