HARRISONBURG, Va. -- The defending USA South Champion Meredith College volleyball Angels kicked off the 2019 campaign with a 2-0 day at the Route 42 Classic at Eastern Mennonite University. MCVB downed the Catholic Cardinals 3-1 and fought back to finish off the host Royals 3-2.

Meredith will play at Bridgewater College tomorrow beginning with the Lynchburg Hornets at 10 a.m., finishing off the weekend versus the Eagles.

Caroline Corey led the charge versus Catholic with a dozen kills , adding seven digs. Lauren Grodi dished out 24 assists with Hailey Long and Avery Bowman notching a combined 12. Samantha Smith grabbed 18 digs and Lauren Phillips recorded 16. Grodi completed a double-double with 10. Cathy Delano led the middles with four blocks, adding six kills.

Meredith opened 1-0 with EMU but dropped the second and third set to the Royals. MCVB took the lead early in game four and pushed ahead to force a deciding set. Eastern Mennonite appeared to have the upper hand until Long dropped a kill by Long and assisted by Abby Lee interrupted a 4-0 EMU rally.

Corey and Elisabeth Smith landed two more, as the Avenging Angels went on to finish off the Royals.

Elisabeth Smith led a balanced offensive effort with nine kills, and Corey addded seven. Grodi finished with 26 assists, and Phillips led with 27 digs.