Smith leads Bishop volleyball to 3-1 victory in USA South opener

Rocky Mount, NC - Freshman Meredith Smith had a career high 12 kills and five blocks on Tuesday night, leading her North Carolina Wesleyan volleyball squad to a 3-1 victory over Meredith College in the USA South Conference opener for both squads. Set scores were 25-13, 28-26, 23-25, and 25-13. Smith (pictured) also recorded a team-high three service aces in the win. Wesleyan is now 4-6 overall, 1-0 USA South play, while the Avenging Angels drop to 4-7 on the season, 0-1 in league action.

The Battling Bishops took a 1-0 match lead the opening set thanks to 13 kills against just five attack errors.  They increased that lead to 2-0 with a thrilling 28-26 win in game two. Wesleyan fought off two set points before freshman Shana Ayers ended the game with a kill.

Meredith fought back with a 25-23 victory in the third set with 15 team kills, but the Bishops came out on fire in game four, turning in a match-high 15 kills and .423 hitting percentage en route to a 25-13 set and match victory. As a team, Wesleyan amassed 53 kills against 23 errors in the match, while the Angels struggled offensively and recorded negative hitting percentages in three of four sets.

In addition to Smith's performance, senior Brittany Insley added 13 kills, 10 digs, and four blocks. Mackenzie Tingle finished with 45 assists and 10 digs of her own, while Kelly George and Jessica Galati anchored the defensive effort with 23 and 12 digs, respectively.

Cori Spade paced the Angels with a game-high 14 kills and six blocks.

Wesleyan returns to action on Thursday when the Battling Bishops travel to Salem College. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem.
 

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