RALEIGH, N.C. -- In Wednesday night's home opener the Meredith College volleyball squad finally gained control in the fourth set to finish off the visiting Roanoke Maroons 3-1. Caroline Corey led the offense with 13 kills, and Haley Reeg directed the front line defense with six blocks to her credit.

Neither team could find a way to gain much of a rhythm through the first two sets, leaving the match up for grabs knotted at one apiece. The Maroons took an early lead in the third when rookie Avery Bowman put the ball away on a second touch to interrupt the momentum.

Corey stuffed an attack from Roanoke's Kelsey Goodman, and Goodman added a second error on the next play. A service ace from Corey pulled the Angels to within one at 7-6, and Meredith's young squad started finding their stride. Cathy Delano stuffed one in the middle to tie the match at eights.

Roanoke collected the next two points before faulting at the service line, and Lauren Phillips led Meredith on a 4-0 rally moving the Angels out front. The Avenging Angels scored seven of the next nine points to clear a path to 25, but the Maroons responded with a near comeback to keep the battle close. A Roanoke service error finished out the set in favor of MCVB for a 2-1 advantage.

The Angels exploded out of the gate in the fourth and final set with back-to-back kills from Corey and Reeg, followed by a pair of service aces from Delano. Bowman slipped in another winner, and Meredith pushed ahead for the clear win.

Bowman finished with six kills, 17 assists, and Delano notched five kills to go along with five from Elisabeth Smith. Lauren Grodi tallied nine assists, and Emily Skoglund managed the back line with a match-high 18 digs.

Roanoke's Linsey Bailey led all with 15 kills, adding 11 digs, and Olivia Newman recorded 38 assists. 

The Avenging Angels travel to Brevard this weekend for a two-day event beginning with the host Tornados Friday at 2 p.m. Meredith will face off with Emory & Henry and the Guilford Quakers Saturday afternoon. Follow the Angels on the USA South Instagram page (@usa_south) and with #USASouthTakeover throughout their trip. Meredith will participate in the conference social media initiative and offer fans an inside look into the team's experience on and off the court.

Tournament live action available HERE.