NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Meredith 3, N.C. Wesleyan 1
Records: Meredith, 16-4 (7-3 USA South); N.C. Wesleyan, 6-12 (1-7 USA South)
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -
Megan Murray recorded a career-high 37 digs as Meredith volleyball outlasted N.C. Wesleyan, 3-1, on Wednesday evening in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
After dropping the first set, the Avenging Angels roared back with a dominant second set victory (25-15), before emerging victorious in hard-fought third (26-24) and fourth sets (25-23) to take the win.
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Murray was the star on Wednesday night, as the senior libero was all over the court, with a career-high 37 digs to swing numerous points toward the Avenging Angels. In a match that featured many long rallies, three other Avenging Angels tallied at least 10 digs, as
Caitlyn Russell (15),
Scarlet Griffin (14) and
Caroline Prease (12) also accomplished the feat.
On the offensive side, Russell was the only Angel to reach double digits, with 10 kills to deliver a double double in the match. Freshman
Kaylie Parker was rock solid in the middle, with seven kills and a team-high three block assists.
While Meredith took the first matchup between the teams in straight sets back in September, the Battling Bishops were up to the task early in the rematch. N.C. Wesleyan took control of the first set and held on to win it 25-22.
However, from there, it was all Meredith, with the Avenging Angels racing out to a 5-0 lead in the second set to set the tone for the remainder of the match. After MC cruised to a 25-15 win in the second set, the crucial third set was tied at 24-all, when the Angels met the moment, winning the final two points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set was also back and forth, with neither side able to separate. Needing one final side out to clinch the match, a perfect set by Griffin led to a match-clinching kill from
Daven Brabble at 25-23 in the fourth set.
Up next, Meredith will play a pair of matches this Sunday, October 18 at Mary Baldwin University, taking on the host Fighting Squirrels at 12 p.m. before battling Greensboro in a neutral site matchup at 2 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
- Meredith won back-and-forth battles in the third and fourth sets to emerge victorious.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Murray recorded a career-best 37 digs in the win.
- Russell added a double double, leading the way with 10 kills while also adding 15 digs.
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