ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College volleyball team knocked off conference rival Methodist University in five sets at home Tuesday evening holding them off 15-9 in the fifth. The win improves the Bishops' best start in 10 years to 11-4 on the season.

Wesleyan got off to a good start hitting .406 in the first set with 16 kills to win it 25-20. Methodist then edged the Bishops in a tight second set 25-23 getting a favorable call from the referees on set point even as Wesleyan totaled 14 kills in the set.

The third set then saw the Bishops blow away the Monarchs again with 14 kills and only 3 errors hitting .355 to win it 25-19. MU then came back and played well in the fourth set winning 25-17 to tie the match at two sets and push Wesleyan to a fifth set for the first time all year.

Wesleyan, though, would not blink running out to a 4-1 lead and an 8-4 lead while holding off MU 15-9 behind 11 kills hitting .308.

Senior middle hitter Lauren Weaver played outstanding in this one setting a season-high with 20 kills hitting .533 with 3 solo blocks while fellow senior middle Sydney Barnwell also played well registering 14 kills and 4 blocks with an ace hitting .379.

Junior outside hitter Aubrey Nicholson also had her best game of the season recording 14 kills with 18 digs and 4 aces for a double-double while hitting .323. Senior right side Michaela Seawell then added 11 kills and 9 digs while junior libero Kira Kristjanson addedd 22 digs, 2 aces, and a kill.

Sophomore setter Sloan Martin also had a season-best 61 assists to go with 10 digs and 3 kills.

Wesleyan is now 3-1 in the conference while Methodist falls to 8-8 overall and 0-4 in the East.

The Bishops will now head on the road to face Randolph College on Friday night at 6:30 PM.