SWANNANOA, N.C.— Spartanburg Methodist College defeated the Montreat College volleyball team in straight sets at ACA Gymnasium Tuesday night, taking the first-ever matchup between the two programs with scores of 25-21, 25-17 and 27-25. Following the result, the Cavaliers slid to 0-5 overall and in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action, while the Pioneers moved to 5-12 overall and 1-4 in league play.
Montreat opened the first frame with
Elizabeth Harrington showcasing offensive efficiency, securing early points through multiple kills assisted by
Cizzie Griffin. Despite the strong start, Spartanburg Methodist responded with a flurry of kills and service aces to establish a 10-5 lead.
The Cavs' attempts to regain momentum included a trio of kills by
Josie Leatherman,
Maggie Stewart and Harrington, which helped reduce the deficit to 11-10; however, the Pioneers capitalized on the Cavaliers' errors and ultimately extended their advantage with a strong service run, pushing the score up to 21-12. The hosts rallied late with consecutive points, including an ace from
Taylor Shaw, but SMC closed out the set, 25-21.
Montreat began the second frame with momentum, highlighted by a service ace from Griffin and a kill from Stewart, establishing an early 3-1 edge. The team extended their advantage to 4-1 with another ace by
Isabella Farmer, prompting the visitors to call a timeout after falling behind. Spartanburg Methodist responded strongly, tying the score at 5-5 and then pulling ahead with a 6-0 run that included two aces, shifting the momentum in their favor.
Despite the Cavs' efforts to stay close, including kills by
Sarah Alderman and
Ella Rose Livingston, SMC maintained control of the set. Montreat called a timeout trailing 17-11, but the visitors extended their lead with consistent scoring and a final 4-0 spurt to wrap up the frame. The Cavaliers ended the set with a score of 17, while the Pioneers finished with 25.
Montreat returned to action in the third set and quickly fought back from an early deficit. Leatherman sparked the team with consecutive kills, narrowing Spartanburg Methodist's 3-0 lead down to one. The teams exchanged points throughout, with Harrington and Alderman contributing defensively to keep Montreat competitive.
Midway through the frame, the home side capitalized on the visitors' errors to trim the margin.
Brittany Jack's effective service, which included an ace, helped bring the Cavs within striking distance at 16-14. The set remained tightly contested, with Livingston and Leatherman delivering crucial kills to keep the match level at various points.
Despite Montreat's resilient efforts, including a late block by Harrington and Livingston to tie the score at 25, Spartanburg Methodist edged ahead with consecutive points to claim the set, 27-25. The Cavs nearly turned the tide but concluded just short of taking the lead.
"We're showing progress, but what we need now is consistency," said head coach
Cristina Viera. "We're a young team, but we have what it takes. It's about putting the pieces together, embracing the fight and finding that edge."
Harrington paced the team defensively at the net, contributing five blocks. She also aided the attack with seven kills, while Leatherman led the squad with eight kills of her own. Griffin facilitated the offense with 14 assists, and she added a service ace as well. Shaw also supported the team's playmaking with 11 helpers.
Allie Anderson bolstered the defense, recording a team-high 11 digs across three sets.
On the night, SMC held the upper hand in kills (38-27), assists (37-27), digs (54-38), blocks (10-6) and service aces (9-6).
The next challenge for Montreat comes on Friday, Oct. 3 as the squad travels to face Bryan College. The match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Dayton, Tenn.
