Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Emmanuel College Lions in a 3-0 final on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors put down 25 kills in the loss to the Lions.  Olivia Johnson led the team with 14 kills.  Southern Wesleyan had 23 assists with Kali Letcher leading the team with 13.  Letcher was followed by Ashley Sexton with eight.  Ashlyn Holford and Kaylyn Woods had the love service aces during the game.  Southern Wesleyan recorded 10 blocks with Danairi Malave (4) and Riley Young (3) leading the team.  Woods led the team with 16 digs during the loss.
 

Match Vitals

Set One: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 21

Set Two: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 18

Set Three: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 18

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-3 / CC 0-3) Emmanuel (6-2 / CC 4-0)


 
How It Happened

Set One
Southern Wesleyan jumped out early on kills by Zharia Harris and Danairi Malave to put the Warriors on top 2-0.  The Lions countered with kills by Hallie Richardson and Emily Hanson.  The Warriors would not be discouraged as Olivia Johnson slammed the ball down with back-to-back kills.  Despite kills by Emily Ellis, the Lions continued to be on the attack as they put down kills of their own.  The Warriors and Lions challenged each other, each one trading the lead.  Despite a late kill by Harris and some attack errors by Emmanuel, the Lions went on to win the first set 25-21.
 
Set Two
Emmanuel took the first point on a kill by Mia Cotton.  They continued to push ahead on blocks by Aleksandra Hamuda and Emily Hanson.  However, the Warriors countered with a kill by Emily Ellis.  Danairi Malave and Riley Young blocked the ball to keep Emmanuel from pushing their lead further, however the Lions maintained the pressure with kills by Gabi Reagan.  Southern Wesleyan would not go down easily as Olivia Johnson put down kills, but the Lions pushed ahead to claim the second set 25-18.
 
Set Three
Emmanuel led off the final set with an ace by Gabi Reagan, but the Warriors countered to take a 2-1 lead on a kill by Olivia Johnson and ace by Ashlyn Holford.  However, the Lions regained the lead on kills by Emily Hanson and Aleksandra Hamuda.  A service ace by Kaylyn Woods allowed the Warriors to keep the final set close.  Riley Young and Johnson killed the ball, but the Lions countered with kills by Cotton and Hamuda to win the final set 25-18.

 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will next welcome the University of Mount Olive Trojans to Central, SC on March 12 at 7 p.m.  They will remain at home on March 13 as they welcome the Barton Bulldogs to Tysinger Gymnasium for a 2 p.m. match.  The Warriors will then travel to Lees-McRae on March 19 and King on March 20.