FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist University women's volleyball team concluded regular-season play at home against Southern Virginia University, fighting hard to gain ground in the close affair, unfortunately falling short, 3-1, at the March F. Riddle Center on Saturday afternoon.
During pregame, Methodist University women's volleyball honored seniors
Faith Driver and
Savannah Hovander for their accomplishments on and off court throughout their collegiate careers at Methodist.
Final Score: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 20-25, 20-25)
Records: Methodist 13-14 (9-9 USA South), Southern Virginia 15-9 (14-4 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Set one would open with a close clash in the opening points as junior Kassidy Edge and sophomore Grace Tillery logged the opening kills for MU. Southern Virginia fought to a six-point scoring drive, led by Summer Hahn's kill and a service ace by Anne Downes. Methodist would match SVU's number with an offensive-run of their own, senior Savannah Hovander pushing to two kills in the process. In the end MU faltered late within the stanza off kills by Hahn and Macie Weatherly for the Knights, dropping set one 25-23.
- The second period featured a more commanding style of gameplay on offense for Methodist, as Edge began with a service ace, followed by two kills from Hovander within the Monarchs rally. Tillery and Addison Johnson connected with three kills combined for MU, extending the Monarchs margin 15-6 heading into the media timeout. Chloe Murray helped in cutting SVU's deficit to six after two service aces recorded by her for the Knights. Hovander would put things on ice for the Monarchs, rolling to a 25-16 set two victory after two closing kills by senior Savannah Hovander.
- Adah Elam began set three strong for the Knights, earning the opening kill before Ryann Vail landed a kill of her own within the opening stages of the period. Not much offensive production would accrue for the Monarchs as Southern Virginia continued to add on to their tally with kills from Vail and Mirabel heading into the midway point of the stanza. A comeback would not be enough for the Monarchs as Edge, Tillery, and Johnson would place kills in the final stages of the period, resulting in a 25-20 Southern Virginia set victory.
- Elam and Mirabel commenced set four with kills for SVU, continuing the Knights dominant production on offense. Hahn and Lucy Ritchens would follow suit offensively with a kill by Hahn and a service ace by Ritchens. Methodist would attempt a comeback midway through the period once more with kills from Hovander and Tillery, before Johnson added two more scores to the Monarchs tally. Defensive miscues would throw off the Monarchs' gameplay late, resulting in a 25-20 set win for Southern Virginia and the match victory for the Knights, 3-1.
MORE TO IT
- Senior Savannah Hovander and Addison Johnson led the Monarchs on offense with 14 kills, respectively.
- Hovander was a force on defense in the middle, placing four kills perfectly for Methodist to record additional scoring chances for MU.
- Freshman Harper Evans contributed to Methodist's consistent game flow on offense to stay afloat in the contest, marking out with 45 assists against the Knights.
- Sophomore Ashley Farman helped in establishing these scoring drives for MU with 18 digs on the defensive front for the Monarchs.
Up Next
Methodist clinches the sixth seed in the 2026 USA South Women's Volleyball Conference Tournament, drawing third-seeded Salem College (N.C.) in the opening round at the Salem Varsity Gym in Winston-Salem, N.C., with first serve set for 6:00 PM.
