Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Tuesday evening in a 3-1 final score.

The Warriors posted 31 kills against the Crusaders.  Olivia Johnson led the team with 12 kills.  Ashley Sexton had 24 of the 29 assists of the night.  The Warriors had four aces with Sexton leading the team with two.  Southern Wesleyan had 60 digs with Johnson leading the team with 16.  She was followed by Jesse Soles with 11 and Kaylyn Woods with 10.  The Warriors recorded nine blocks.


 
Match Vitals

Set One: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 21

Set Two: Belmont Abbey 25, Southern Wesleyan 20

Set Three: Belmont Abbey 25, Southern Wesleyan 14

Set Four: Belmont Abbey 25, Southern Wesleyan 14

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-8 / CC 0-8) Belmont Abbey (5-7 / CC 3-6)


 
How It Happened

Set One
Belmont Abbey took the first point of the match on a service ace by Paige Rawlins, but the Warriors countered with kills by Olivia Johnson and Ashlyn Holford to put the Warriors on top 2-1.  The Crusaders countered to regain the lead, but the Warriors were not discouraged as Emily Ellis and Danairi Malave killed the ball to put Southern Wesleyan regained the lead.  Belmont Abbey challenged, but blocks by Holford and Ashley Sexton kept the Warriors on top.  A kill by Ellis allowed the Warriors to take the first set 25-21.
 
Set Two
The Warriors took the first point on a service ace by Ashley Sexton, but the Crusaders countered with an ace of their own to take a 2-1 point lead.  Their lead was short lived as Olivia Johnson put down a kill to tie the second set up 2-2.  Belmont Abbey pushed ahead with kills by Jenna McCullough and Katie Williams.  The Warriors countered with kills by Emily Ellis, Ashlyn Holford and Johnson.  Despite kills and blocks by Holford and Johnson, the Crusaders won the second set 25-20.
 
Set Three
Belmont Abbey attacked the net first in the third set on a kill by Lauren Hamilton, but Southern Wesleyan countered with kills by Zharia Harris and Olivia Johnson to put the Warriors on top 4-1.  The Crusaders countered with kills by Paige Rawlins and Katie Williams to push them back on top.  Belmont Abbey maintained the pressure, shutting down the Warriors attacks every time.  Despite a late kill by Johnson, Belmont Abbey took a 25-14 point victory in the third set.
 
Set Four
Southern Wesleyan led off the final set with a kill by Olivia Johnson, but Belmont Abbey countered with blocks by Bailey Rose and Sarah Wilson to put the Crusaders on top.  The Crusaders maintained the pressure with kills by Williams and Rose.  Southern Wesleyan countered with kills by Johnson and Ashlyn Holford.  However, the Crusaders took the fourth set 25-14.
 

 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will close out the regular season at home.  They will host the University of Mount Olive Trojans on April 1 at 7 p.m.  The Warriors will then welcome the Converse College Valkyries to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on April 6 at 7 p.m.