GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro College volleyball (12-2) defeated Methodist (4-7) 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 20-25, 25-20) on Saturday at Hanes Gymnasium. Greensboro moved from a 9-6 deficit to a 12-9 lead in the fourth set and finished the set 25-20 to close the match.
Greensboro built a 7-3 lead in the opening set with kills from
Payton Shiflet,
Larkin Baxley,
Skylar Rokov and
Dilynn Norris, along with a block by
Abigail Leo on a Methodist attack error. Methodist worked back to ties at 8-8, 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12, then moved ahead 13-12 on a Kassidy Edge kill before Norris tied it and
Madison Bozarth served two aces during Greensboro's push to 16-13. After Greensboro stretched the margin to 20-14, Methodist scored three straight points, but Leo and Baxley answered with kills late, and Shiflet finished the set with a kill from
Emory Johnson for a 25-18 Greensboro win.
Grace Young served Greensboro through the first nine points of the second set, a stretch that included two service aces, kills from Baxley, Leo and Shiflet, and Leo block on a Methodist attack error. Methodist stopped the run at 9-1, but Greensboro pushed the margin back to 13-1 with a Baxley kill, a Shiflet kill and a
Morgan Mayfield ace, then moved ahead 16-3 after a Rokov kill and a Bozarth ace. Methodist cut the score from 17-5 to 17-9 during Savannah Hovander's serve, including a service ace and two block-assisted Greensboro attack errors, before
Payton Wright's kill and a later Shiflet kill helped Greensboro extend it to 22-11. Methodist got back to 22-14 on an Addison Johnson kill and two service aces, but
Payton Bell's kill and Mayfield's ace helped Greensboro close the set 25-15 on a Methodist service error.
Methodist broke a 3-3 tie with nine straight points, including two Ashley Farman aces and kills from Savannah Hovander and Addison Johnson, to push Greensboro into a 12-3 hole in the third set. Greensboro began working back with kills by Shiflet and
Sydney Beck, then later used a Mayfield ace, another Shiflet kill and Methodist attack errors to move from 17-10 to 18-17. After Methodist stretched the margin back to 21-18, Rokov and Beck recorded kills to bring Greensboro within 21-20. Methodist answered with the final four points, closing the set 25-20.
Methodist moved in front 7-2 in the fourth set as Savannah Hovander served three aces, but Greensboro cut the deficit to 8-6 with a Norris kill and two Methodist attack errors. After Methodist pushed the score to 9-6, Greensboro scored six straight points, with Baxley tying the set at 9-9, Leo putting Greensboro ahead, Johnson adding an ace and Baxley closing the run with a kill for a 12-9 lead. Greensboro stretched the margin to 18-12 behind Shiflet and blocks involving Shiflet, Norris and Rokov, and after Methodist moved back within 23-20, Leo's kill and Mayfield's ace finished a 25-20 set win.
Greensboro Top Performers
Payton Shiflet
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- team-high 15.0 points
- team-high 14 kills
- 7 digs
- 2 blocks
Morgan Mayfield
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- team-high 20 digs
- team-high 4 service aces
- 9 assists
- Mayfield has recorded at least 20 digs in four consecutive games.
Larkin Baxley
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- 12 kills on .385 hitting
- 17 assists
- 13 digs
- 12.0 points
- Baxley achieved a season-high total of 12 kills.
- Baxley posted a season-high of 12.0 points.
- Baxley recorded a season-best 13 digs.
Emory Johnson
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- team-high 19 assists
- 10 digs
- 1 service ace
Abigail Leo
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- team-high 4 blocks, including 3 solo
- 6 kills
- 9.5 points
Dilynn Norris
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- Norris has recorded 3 or more total blocks in three consecutive games.
Greensboro carried the stronger attacking profile, finishing with 50 kills and a .206 hitting percentage while Methodist had 42 kills, hit .098 and committed 27 attack errors. Greensboro also held a small blocking edge, 8-6, while the serving totals were nearly even with Greensboro at 10 aces and Methodist at 11.
Greensboro turned a 13-13 set into a 20-14 lead by winning seven of the next eight rallies. Bozarth served two aces during that stretch, and Rokov and Norris combined on a block as Greensboro created separation. Shiflet closed the set with a kill from Johnson for a 25-18 finish.
Greensboro opened the second set with nine straight points on Young's serve and rode that start to a 25-15 set win. Young had two aces during the run, while Leo added two kills and a block and Baxley and Shiflet each put down kills. Methodist cut into the margin later, but Greensboro kept answering, including a Mayfield ace that brought it to set point before a Methodist service error finished the set.
Greensboro made its move after Methodist opened a 12-3 lead, winning seven of eight rallies to get within one at 18-17. Mayfield's ace and a Shiflet kill helped the run, and a block by Shiflet and Norris brought Greensboro to 18-17. Methodist answered after Beck's kill made it 21-20 and closed out the set 25-20.
Greensboro changed the fourth set with a six-point surge from a 9-6 deficit to a 12-9 lead. Leo and Baxley had kills during the run, and Johnson added a service ace. Greensboro held off Methodist from there, with Leo putting down a kill for set point before Mayfield's service ace closed the set at 25-20.
Up Next:
Greensboro volleyball team hosts Sweet Briar on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at 4 p.m. at Hanes Gymnasium in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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