Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in their fourth match of the season to the Barton Bulldogs in a 3-1 final score.

The Warriors recorded 35 kills during the match with Olivia Johnson leading the team with 13.  Johnson was followed by Emily Ellis with 10.  Southern Wesleyan had 27 assists with Kali Letcher leading the team with 13.  Letcher was followed by freshman Ashley Sexton with 12.  Both Ashlyn Holford and Kaylyn Woods recorded two aces.  Holford led the team with three blocks while both Danairi Malave and Johnson followed with two blocks.

 
Game Vitals

Set One: Southern Wesleyan 25, Barton 23

Set Two: Barton 25, Southern Wesleyan 16

Set Three: Barton 25, Southern Wesleyan 22

Set Four: Barton 25, Southern Wesleyan 12

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-4 / CC 0-4) Barton (2-8 / CC 2-4)


 
How It Happened

Set One
Barton struck early to take a 1-1 lead over Southern Wesleyan.  However, a service ace by Ashlyn Holford and kill by Olivia Johnson allowed the Warriors to push ahead 4-1.  The Bulldogs countered with a kill of their own, but the Warriors maintain the pressure as Johnson and Emily Ellis both put down kills.  The Bulldogs and Warriors challenged each other as they alternated kills for several points.  The Bulldogs pushed ahead with a kill and ace by Allison Gambill.  However, the Warriors regained the lead with kills by Johnson, Ellis and Danairi Malave to win the first set 25-23.

Set Two
Barton kicked off the second set with a kill by Caroline Schoonover.  However, an ace by Ashlyn Holford and a kill by Danairi Malave allowed the Warriors to take the lead.  The Bulldogs put down kills by Allison Gambill and Caroline Schoonover to push ahead.  Ashley Sexton got in an ace and Holford put down a kill to keep the Warriors within striking distance.  Despite kills by Zharia Harris and a blocks by Holford and Riley Young, the Warriors dropped the second set to Barton 25-16.

Set Three
The Bulldogs took the first kill of evening off an attack by Kate Lawrence.  Barton continued to push ahead on kills by Kaytlin Elkins and Caroline Schoonover.  However, the Warriors countered with kills by Olivia Johnson, Emily Ellis and Kali Letcher.  The Bulldogs continued to push ahead with an ace by Madeline Hill.  Despite trailing the Bulldogs, the Warriors would not be discouraged as an ace by Letcher kept the Warriors within three.  Johnson put down one last kill for the Warriors, Barton won the third set 25-22.

Set Four
Barton kicked off the final set with a kill by Kaytlin Elkins, but a kill by Riley Young allowed the Warriors to tie the set up 1-1.  The Bulldogs pushed ahead, putting up six more points on aces and kills by Elkins and Kate Lawrence.  Southern Wesleyan countered with kills by Emily Ellis and Kali Letcher.  Barton continued to shut down the Warriors attacks as they went on to win the final set 25.12.

 
What's Next

The Warriors will next travel to Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats on March 19 at 7 p.m.  They will remain on the road on March 20 as they travel to Bristol, TN to take on the King Tornado.  Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on March 27 against the Chowan Hawks.