CENTRAL, S.C. - The Southern Wesleyan volleyball team, ranked second in the NCCAA, won a thrilling come from behind match against conference foe North Greenville in front of a raucous home crowd on Wednesday in Tysinger Gymnasium. The match was senior night for Courtney O'Brien, Sarah Hughey and Megan Widener, and was the last home match of the season for Julia Reininga's team. With the impressive win the Warriors improve to 19-6 on the season and 14-2 in conference play while the Crusaders fall to 22-10 overall and 10-6 in Conference Carolinas. 

"We were a little out of sorts tonight and North Greenville came out fired up," Reininga said. "I'm very proud of the team for stepping up after falling in the first two sets. This win shows the character of these ladies. When things are tough they pull together! I'm so happy for our seniors and I can't thank them enough for all they have done for the SWU volleyball program."

The Warriors fell 25-16 in the first set and 25-23 in the second set. North Greenville hit .382 in the first set while holding Southern Wesleyan to just .135. The second set was much closer but the Crusaders squeaked out another set win. The Warriors, however, would storm back. Southern Wesleyan would comeback to win the next three sets 25-17, 25-15 and 15-10 to clinch the match and send the seniors out on a winning note. The Warriors finished the season 9-1 at home. 

In the third, fourth and fifth sets the Warriors hit .357, .227 and .412, respectively while holding the Crusaders to percentages of .086, .000 and .235 in the same sets. Hughey, a senior from Liberty, led the Warrior offense with 22 kills on 45 attempts. She also had seven digs, 14 receptions with zero errors, and an outstanding seven blocks to help the defensive effort. Paige O'Connor tallied 17 kills, two aces, four digs and had three block assists.

Widener, a senior setter, contributed 57 assists and had the second most digs on the team with 14. Milica Stamenic, the junior libero, totaled 26 digs, five assists, and had 15 receptions without an error. O'Brien added 11 digs and had 15 serve receptions without an error. The Warriors recorded 10 blocks as a team.

"The crowd was a huge difference maker tonight and we couldn't do it without them," said Hughey. "They have helped us all season and tonight was no different! They are so much fun to play in front of and we really feed off of their energy."

Southern Wesleyan will await word on seeding and an opponent for the NCCAA South Region Tournament held at Emmanuel College Nov. 20-21.