Newberry, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan rises above UNC Pembroke in second match of the Newberry Volleyball Invitational in a 3-0 final.

The Warriors posted 41 kills in the three set match against UNC Pembroke.  Paige O'Connor and Olivia Johnson led the team with 11 kills apiece.  Annika Jones led the team with 31 of the 40 assists of the day.  Jones and senior Shelby Sheets led the team with three service aces each.  The Warriors posted 39 digs in the victory, with Katie Anderson leading the team with 13 digs, followed by Annika Jones with 11.  Southern Wesleyan posted 10 blocks, with freshman Liz Kuntz leading the team with three.

Game Vitals

Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, UNC Pembroke 21

Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 26, UNC Pembroke 24

Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, UNC Pembroke 20

Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-1), UNC Pembroke (0-2)

Coach Reininga says…

"I'm very happy with how the team played today!  It was tough competition and the girls played together! It was an exciting first day!  Can't wait to see the girls back on the court tomorrow!"

How It Happened

Set One

Southern Wesleyan struck first in the debate against UNC Pembroke on a kill by senior Kendall Vallancourt.  However, UNC Pembroke pulled ahead to take a 3-2 lead, but a kill by Annika Jones allowed the Warriors to tie the set and then kills by Katlyn Von Ins and Liz Kuntz allowed SWU to take a 6-5 advantage.  Southern Wesleyan increased their lead to five points on a service ace by Paige O'Connor to bring the score to 11-6 in the first set of the match against UNC Pembroke.  UNC Pembroke countered the Warriors moves, striving to shorten SWU's lead.  However, the Warriors countered each point to take a 19-13 point lead.  A kill by Paige O'Connor brought set one home for the Warriors to give them a 25-21.

Set Two

The Warriors quickly took a 3-0 in set two of the evening after a kill by Shelby Sheets and service ace by Annika Jones.  UNC Pembroke countered quickly to tie the set, but the Warriors countered their every move.  After both teams traded leads back and forth, consecutive kills by Liz Kuntz and Shelby Sheets gave the Warriors an 18-15 advantage.  Southern Wesleyan increased their lead to 23-17 after kills by senior Paige O'Connor.  However, UNC Pembroke fought back to come within one of Southern Wesleyan after kills by Makaylah Elliott.  The Warriors would not let them gain the advantage taking the second set of the match 26-24 on kills by Annika Jones and Olivia Johnson.

Set Three

UNC Pembroke broke first in the third and final set of the evening to take a 5-2 lead over the Warriors.  However Southern Wesleyan fought back to tie the set 8-8 and then push ahead to take a 10-9 point lead on a kill by Shelby Sheets.  Their lead was short lived as UNC Pembroke regained a 15-12 point lead.  However, two service aces by Sheets and then consecutive attack error by UNC Pembroke players allowed SWU to take a 17-15 point lead.  Shelby Sheets lead the Warriors to victory with yet another kill to give them a 25-20 point victory to win the overall match.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will continue in the Newberry Volleyball Invitational on September 2.  They will take on Newberry College at 11 am before taking on the Coker College Cobras at 7 pm in their last match-up of the tournament.  The Warriors will then travel to Shorter on September 6.