FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Meredith College volleyball team defeated USA South foe Methodist 3-1 in tonight's conference opener (25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 25-14). Rookie Karlie Long notched a team-high 19 kills in .444 hitting to secure the win.

The Monarchs, selected in the preseason coaches' poll to finish ahead of the Avenging Angels, dropped to 3-7 overall, while Meredith improved to 6-5.

MU opened the match with a 5-2 lead before Long served her team on a 7-0 run capped off with a block partnered with Jasmine Aguinaldo.

The teams traded points during the next series of plays before a kill from setter Anna Hayes launched a 6-0 run to extend Meredith's lead to 10.

The Monarchs chipped away at the Angel lead before Molly Markley and Clarke Glendenning connected for a kill to finish the set 25-19.

The teams tied the score on seven occasions to open the second frame 9-9. Monarch Emily Krochmal launched a kill and Karly Klimas landed a service ace to force Meredith Head Coach Fiona Barkley to whistle for a timeout.

The Monarchs took advantage of the break and put together a 5-2 run to take a seven-point advantage. A pair of MU errors combined with a solo block from Aguinaldo kept Meredith in the mix, but the Monarchs managed to tie the match 1-1.

Meredith dropped the first two points in set three but would not relinquish the lead again until MU tied the score at 18's. The teams traded points on the next six plays before the Avenging Angels finished the set 25-22 to take a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth frame followed much the same pattern with Meredith and Methodist battling for an advantage. Rookie libero Emery McGee served seven straight to slip past the Monarchs 16-10.

The Avenging Angels allowed MU to score just four more points en route to a 3-1 match victory.

Long recorded her third career double-double adding 11 digs with three blocks. Aguinaldo posted a season-high four solo blocks on her way to nine total on the nigh. Glendenning and Hayes dished out a combined 29 assists and McGee tallied 14 digs in the win.

Methodist's Allison Graves notched a match-high 21 kills and setter Risa Smith recorded 38 assists in the loss.

The Avenging Angels travel to Ferrum Saturday, September 21, for more USA South competition with Averett at 2 p.m. followed by the Panthers.