FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist University women's volleyball team stormed into the March F. Riddle Center for a resounding battle against Salem College (N.C.), ultimately favoring the Monarchs with freshman
Harper Evans match-sealing kill to close a 3-2 victory on Wednesday evening.
Final Score: Methodist def. Salem (N.C.), 3-2 (25-25, 18-25, 25-23, 16-25, 18-16)
Records: Methodist 8-8 (5-3 USA South), Salem (N.C.) 14-5 (5-3 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.
How It Happened
- Set one opened with Salem controlling offensive possession, recording the first five kills in the stanza, driven by Ellie Scherer with a pair. The Monarchs would push back on Salem with senior Savannah Hovander driving in three kills to maintain Methodist's momentum. The Monarchs would ultimately prevail after a service ace by junior Kassidy Edge, leading to a 25-23 set win for Methodist.
- The second stanza began with Methodist and Salem pushing for leverage versus each other in the opening stages. Ariana Noplos for Salem cashed in four kills within a six-point rally, concluding the set, 25-18 in favor of Salem.
- Hovander alongside sophomore Addison Johnson connected with five-combined kills, driving the Monarchs to an 11-7 lead, midway through the third stanza. Grace Tillery commanded Methodist during the ultimate stages of set three, logging three kills in the Monarchs final seven points for a 25-23 set point in favor of the Monarchs.
- Leah Rymer opened set four with two service aces, propelling a 15-5 run for Salem to begin set four. A service ace and a kill by Harper Evans alongside two kills by Hovander would not be enough to prevail Methodist over Salem, resulting in a 25-16 set point for Salem, sealed off two kills by Rymer.
- The Monarchs began the ultimate stanza kills from Edge and Johnson, grouped with a Methodist service ace by Johnson for the Monarchs to cruise in an early 5-2 rally. Salem and Methodist would battle to the very end of the set, driven by kills from Rymer and Hovander, keeping both sides in the game. Addison Johnson and Harper Evans wrapped up a vital 3-2 victory for the Monarchs off kills from each of them, ending set five 18-16 in favor of Methodist.
By The Numbers
- Addison Johnson and Savannah Hovander led Methodist offensively with 18 kills apiece, becoming a season-high for Hovander while Johnson matched her previous tally.
- Grace Tillery controlled the defensive front for the Monarchs, cashing in nine blocks for her collegiate career high in the victory.
- Harper Evans propelled Methodist's triumph on offense, launching to a collegiate career-best of 52 assists, beating out her prior total of 40 assists logged against Pfeiffer University back in mid-September.
- Sophomores Addison Johnson and Ashley Farman each landed career-bests with 22 and 20 digs respectively to control the Monarchs game flow throughout the clash.
Up Next
Methodist begins their road stretch of conference games, first with the Knights of Southern Virginia University on Saturday, October 10th, inside Knight Arena. First serve will commence at 12:00 PM.
