FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist University women's volleyball team returned to the March F. Riddle Center on Saturday afternoon, battling in a USA South showdown against Greensboro College in a highly contested clash, falling just shy of a comeback, 3-1 to the Pride.
Final Score: Greensboro def. Methodist, 3-1 (13-25, 19-25, 25-17, 19-25)
Records: Methodist 11-11 (7-6 USA South), Greensboro 21-4 (11-3 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Greensboro started the contest off red-hot with Enjoli Allen and Payton Shiflet collecting the first four kills for the Pride. Sophomore Addison Johnson would propel the Monarchs back on the board with two service aces alongside senior Savannah Hovander with one kill in Methodist's rally. Kills by Skylar Rokov and Dilynn Norris helped push Greensboro to dominate in set one, 25-13, off the Pride's late five-point run.
- Greensboro continued commanding the contest, earning the first five points during the second stanza on the back of two kills by Larkin Baxley. Methodist would produce simultaneously to the Pride's number, pushing to a four-point stretch to cut the deficit to one on the strength of sophomore Ashley Farman's three-straight service aces. Ultimately, Greensboro would take control of set two with late kills by Larkin Baxley and Abigail Leo to score the Pride's second point of the match, 25-19.
- The third stanza would begin as a back-and-forth affair on both sides with freshman Meghan Holzinger getting in on the mix with a kill of her own. Junior Kassidy Edge would follow suit, jumpstarting Methodist's six-point scoring frenzy which halted midway through the third set after a kill by sophomore Grace Tillery. A trio of Monarchs would drive their squad to victory in the third period of the match, fighting through the Pride's stout defensive unit to take set three, 25-17.
- Defensive miscues would ensue for the Pride in set four, allowing the Monarchs to roll to an early lead, driven by kills from Edge, Hovander, and senior Faith Driver. Greensboro would shut down Methodist's offensive production late in the stanza, for an eight-point scoring run driven by Norris and Baxley, with Morgan Mayfield finishing off the 3-1 Greensboro victory, 25-19 in set four.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Sophomore Addison Johnson led the Monarchs with 15 kills, followed by senior Savannah Hovander with 11 kills offensively.
- Harper Evans helped maintain Methodist's strong play style on offense, scoring 24 assists against Greensboro.
- Johnson and sophomore Ashley Farman threw off the Pride with their serving technique, each collecting three service aces in the afternoon.
- Defensively, sophomore Grace Tillery landed four blocks for the Monarchs followed by Johnson and Evans control of the ball leading to scoring possessions with 15 digs each.
Up Next
Methodist returns back to the March F. Riddle Center on Tuesday, October 27th for a 6:00 PM conference matchup against Meredith College.
