ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Shenandoah University clinched a tie for sixth in the USA South with five-game splits of its final regular season matches against Peace and Methodist colleges.

Methodist (15-16, 6-8) downed the Hornets 30-27, 32-34, 30-25, 27-30, 15-11 before SU (14-13, 3-11) rebounded to down the Pacers 24-30, 28-30, 30-28, 30-21, 15-13.

The split ties Shenandoah with NC Wesleyan in the eight-team league and puts coach Sarah Pelster's club into a Tuesday quarterfinal round contest against Christopher Newport University. The Hornets will travel to the Freeman Center for a 7:00 match on Tuesday evening.

After MC outlasted Shenandoah behind 23 kills from Allison Averitt and another 17 from Sara Yeatman, the Hornets roared back to down PC.

Trailing 2-0, SU won game three by two points, game for by nine and the clincher by two. Freshman Jessi Johnson had a game-high 16 kills in the win with Jennifer Thompson adding 15 and Michelle Chandler 13.

Sophomore Catherine Beuerle, who rejoined the team this week, combined with Chandler to dish out a combined 43 assists. Beuerle had 21 in the Peace match after registering 31 against Methodist.

Sophomore Jennie Haywood led the defense with 24 digs against MC and 21 against PC.

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