Spartanburg Methodist College Splits Two Matches

Dayton, Tenn. – The Spartanburg Methodist College volleyball team split two matches, losing to Bluefield in five and defeating Bryan (Tenn.) in four. 

The Pioneers began the day with a five-set loss to Bluefield, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 15-7. Kendall Meinders paced the attack for SMC with 13 kills and a .250 hitting percentage and Brook Noe had 21 assists and three service aces in the loss.

To start the match, SMC built a lead as large as six, 12-6 on a Brantlie Price service ace after a timeout by the Rams. Bluefield came back and took its first lead after a hitting error by the Pioneers, 17-16. A 7-1 spurt by the Rams put them ahead for nearly the remainder of the set. Another ace by Price to go along with back-to-back kills by Meinders and a bad set by Bluefield tied the set at 23. Bluefield scored the next two points for the 25-23.

The second set saw the Pioneers take an 8-6 lead on an Aurora Aho kill before the Rams of Bluefield scored the next four points for a 10-8 lead. The two teams were tied at 11 and 12 before three-straight points by Bluefield prompted a SMC timeout. The Rams remained in front for the rest of the set.

Despite a 6-0 deficit to start the third set, the Pioneers came back to tie it on three occasions – 12, 15 and 18. A kill by Meinders tied the set at 18, followed by a pair of kills by Imarie Singleton put the Pioneers ahead 21-18 to prompt a Bluefield timeout. SMC remained in front to secure third set by a 25-23 margin.

The fourth set saw the momentum and the Pioneers in favor of SMC as they raced out to a 12-3 lead. Bluefield came back to tie the set at 19 and 23. SMC squashed the comeback hopes with another kill by Meinders and a service ace by Aho to force a fifth and deciding set.

Bluefield started the fifth and final set with an early 6-2 lead. The Pioneers cut the deficit to 7-4 when Makinnley Smart recorded a kill. The Rams scored the next three points on their way to a 15-7 victory to secure the set and match.

Spartanburg Methodist College came back in its second match of the day to defeat host Bryan, 21-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-13. In the win, the Pioneers posted a .117 hitting percentage, recorded 12 blocks and recorded eight service aces.

The Pioneers' Brantlie Price recorded a double double with 18 digs and 12 kills to go along with three service aces in the win. Makinnley Smart added 11 kills and two block assists, plus Kendall Meinders had nine kills and five blocks to contribute to the all-around team win.

A 5-1 spurt late in the opening set proved to be the difference as host Bryan took the opening set by a 25-21 margin. SMC came back in the second set and raced out to an 11-3 lead on the strength of two aces by Price and a pair of Meinders kills for the early lead. Bryan would draw no closer than four as the Pioneers tied the match at a set a piece with a 25-16 victory.

The third set saw the two teams tied on four occasions, including at 20. Price tied the set at 20 as the Pioneers scored five of the next seven points to secure the set by a 25-22 margin. 

In winning the fourth set, SMC led from nearly start-to-finish. With a 10-9 lead, the visitors scored 10 of the next 13 points to spoil the comeback hopes of the host Lions. Price put the finishing touches on the win, serving an ace for the final point.

Next, the Pioneers will travel to Warren Wilson in Swannanoa, N.C. on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. before a stretch of three-straight home contests.