RALEIGH, N.C. - The Meredith College volleyball team topped Piedmont College 3-2 (25-23, 28-26, 21-25, 15-25, 15-13) before falling to the Methodist Monarchs 3-2 (25-12, 25-20, 17-25, 17-25, 12-15) to finish with a split in Saturday's USA South Play Day. Karlie Long led both matches with a combined 50 kills on the day, and Emery McGee tallied 36 digs.

The Avenging Angels started out strong to lead the Lions 10-4 in the first set, but Piedmont scored seven consecutive points to take their first lead. A blast from Emily Hendricks ended the run, and she followed with a second to tie the set at 12s. 

Long ripped a set from Katie Keen, and McGee served a winner to continue the pressure until the Angels led 17-14. The teams continued to battle, and PC reclaimed the lead again at 20-19.

Trading the next three series left the Lions ahead 23-21, but a pair of Long kills and a McGee service ace led a match point. Jasmine Aguinaldo closed out the win on a kill from the middle to give the Angels a 1-0 advantage.

The battle continued in the second frame with three lead changes and four ties through 19 points. Trailing by one at 10-9 on a rotation error, Piedmont called for a timeout to regroup. But back-to-back kills from Alex Hafliger extended the Meredith lead.

PC scored two before a 5-1 Meredith rally left the Angels out front by five, but Lion Taylor Cramsey landed a winner to launch a 10-1 run to swing the advantage swiftly back to Piedmont at 22-18.

Long scored back-to-back points and Keen and Hendricks followed with two more to tie the set at 22. The teams tied the score on four more occasions before a pair of unforced Piedmont errors left Meredith with a 2-0 match lead.

The Lions returned the favor in the next two sets to force a deciding frame. With an early 5-4 Piedmont advantage, the Lions spread the gap to four thanks to a pair of service winners. Elizabeth Pattison landed one from the right side, and the Angels scored five more to tie the set 10-10.

Meredith's seventh mishandled ball gave the serve back to the Lions, but Haley Reeg won a battle at the net to bring the ball back to the Angels.

Long drilled a pair of kills and McGee landed another winner from the service line to reach match point. After giving up two points, Long and Keen paired up for another winner to capture the victory.

After a lunch break the Angels returned to the court and claimed a quick 2-0 lead over the Methodist Monarchs. But Meredith struggled at the net in the third to open the door for their opponent. MU took advantage and captured the next two sets to tie the match.

In the fifth frame the visitors held a 9-4 lead before Meredith began to fight.

An unforced Methodist error followed by a Reeg kill helped MCVB to a four point run to pull to within one at 9-8. But the Angels quickly fell back into a five-point deficit.

The Monarchs pushed ahead to match point at 14-0, and Long ripped one down the line to give the Angels another shot. A Methodist miscue kept the run alive until MU's Ashley Beardsley landed a cross court winner to finish out the frame for the win.

Keen led the first match with 51 assists and tallied a match-high 47 versus the Monarchs. Hendricks combined for 24 kills, and Aguinaldo notched 10 kills, five blocks. Defender Jessica Goodwin grabbed 23 digs and four service aces, and Keegan Lynch finished with 19 digs on the day.

Piedmont's Mallory Leary led the Lions with 14 kills, while Emily Peters and Haley Hixon combined for 34 digs. Monarch Jordan Tew and Cassidy Hayes combined for 21 kills for Methodist, and Karly Klimas led all with 32 digs in the win.

Methodist defeated Piedmont 3-1 in the neutral pairing for the USA South sweep.

The Avenging Angels travel across town to face off with rival William Peace Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. A ticket is required for entry into the match. Follow the action live HERE.