ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The NC Wesleyan Volleyball team put on one of their best efforts of the season on Thursday evening in defeating conference rival Methodist University (NC) in five thrilling sets at home in front of an enthusiastic crowd that enjoyed every minute of the big win.

Wesleyan dominated the first set in route to a 25-15 win. Methodist then came back to take the second set 25-19 before the Bishops went right back to work and won the third set 25-21. Methodist came on strong late in the fourth to squeak that one out 25-20 to force a deciding fifth set where the Bishops came out victorious 15-10.

Wesleyan improves to 7-11 overall with the win and 2-4 in the conference while Methodist falls to 8-5 and 2-3 in the USA South.

Junior middle Hannah Thrasher led the Bishops with a .600 hitting percentage and 10 kills and only one error with a team-high 5 blocks while freshman right side hitter Sydney Barnwell led the offense with 12 kills overall. Junior outside hitter Autumn Spence also played well with 11 kills, 5 digs, and 2 blocks while freshman libero Devin Lassiter also added 16 digs with 2 assists and an ace.

Sophomore outside hitter Callie Cline then played every point of the match in getting 9 kills and a team-high 17 digs with an ace and two blocks helping the team to the win. Junior setter Haileigh Riesenbeck then led the Bishops with 28 assists with four digs and two aces while sophomore Augusta Preston also had a season-high 8 kills and 3 blocks hitting .150.

NCWC next goes back on the road to face Pfeiffer and Mary Baldwin University (Va.) in a conference tri-match on Saturday beginning at 2 PM at Pfeiffer University (N.C.) before facing Guilford College Sunday at 1 PM.