Tigerville, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their first two matches in the Beat the Beam Tournament on Friday.  The Warriors fell to the Columbia International Rams in the first match 3-1, before dropping a tight match to the Fayetteville State Broncos in a 3-2 final.

Southern Wesleyan posted 31 kills in the first regular season match-up of the year against the Columbia International Rams.  Emily Ellis led the Warriors with nine kills with both Jesse Soles and Ashlyn Holford following with seven.  Ashton Sexton had two of the six aces of the day.  Holford, Amber Bass and Riley Young each had two blocks.  Kali Letcher led the team with 13 assists with Sexton following behind her with 12.  Both Soles and Kristina Pino had nine digs.

The Warriors recorded 30 kills in the match against Fayetteville State.  Ashlyn Holford led the Warriors with nine, with both Jesse Soles and Amber Bass following with six.  Bass recorded three of the nine aces Southern Wesleyan posted.  The Warriors had six blocks with Holford leading the team with four.  Ashley Sexton had six assists.
 


Match Vitals

Match One: Columbia International 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
                Set One: CIU 25, SWU 11
                Set Two: CIU 25, SWU 22
                Set Three: SWU 26, CIU 24
                Set Four: CIU 25, SWU 11

Match Two: Fayetteville State 3, Southern Wesleyan 2
                Set One: SWU 25, FSU 21
                Set Two: FSU 17, SWU 25
                Set Three: FSU 8, SWU 25
                Set Four: SWU 25, FSU 22
                Set Five: FSU 15, SWU 11


 
How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan vs. Columbia International
Set One
Columbia International took the first point of the game on a kill by Kira Rymer.  The Warriors got on the board shortly afterwards with a kill by Jesse Soles.  The Rams continued to push ahead despite kills by Soles and Emily Ellis.  Despite an ace by Ashley Sexton and kills by Ashlyn Holford, the Warriors dropped the first set 25-11.

Set Two
Southern Wesleyan struck first as Amber Bass put down a kill to give them a 1-0 lead over the Rams.  The Rams countered with kills by Kira Rymer.  However, kills by Bass and errors by Columbia International allowed Southern Wesleyan to keep it close.  The Warriors challenged the Rams every attack as Emily Ellis got the ball past the defense for a kill and Jesse Soles collected a service ace.  Despite a late kill by Kali Letcher, the Warriors dropped the second set 25-22

Set Three
Columbia International struck first, but Emily Ellis and the Warriors countered their attack with a kill of their own to tie the third set 1-1.  The Rams pushed ahead, but an ace by Ellis and kill by Ashlyn Holford kept the Warriors in striking distance.  Southern Wesleyan kept the third set close on a kill by Kailey Demorest.  The Rams challenged, but Kali Letcher put down an ace and both Emily Ellis and Jesse Soles laid down kills to keep Southern Wesleyan on top.  Holford laid down back-to-back kills to give Southern Wesleyan a 26-24 third set victory.

Set Four
The Rams took the first point of the final set on a kill by Alana Sanjurjo, but the Warriors put down their own kill off the hands of Emily Ellis to tie the set up 1-1.  However, Columbia International pushed forward on kills by Kira Rymer to put them on top.  Despite kills from Jesse Soles, Ellis and Amber Bass, the Warriors dropped the final set 25-11
 

Southern Wesleyan vs Fayetteville State
Set One
Fayetteville State took the first point of the match off a kill by Aeyane Mattress.  Southern Wesleyan countered, taking a 3-1 point lead on an ace by Amber Bass.  The Broncos fought for the lead, but kills by Kailey Demorest and Jesse Soles allowed the Warriors to maintain their advantage.  Southern Wesleyan continued to push ahead with kills by Soles and Bass.  The Broncos continued to counter the Southern Wesleyan offensive, but the Warrior defense would not be discouraged.  Aces by Kristina Pino and kills by Emily Ellis and Holford allowed the Warriors to take the first set 25-21.

Set Two
The Broncos took the first point of the second set but a kill by Riley Young allowed the Warriors to get on the board.  Fayetteville State maintained the pressure as they pushed ahead on kills by Ashlyn Bradley.  Kills by Jesse Soles and Ashlyn Holford allowed the Warriors to stay within striking distance.  The Broncos would not let up as Da'Nesha Miller put down a kill to allow them to take the second set 25-17.

Set Three
Fayetteville State charged out of the gate in the third set with a kill by Kalee Vanderhorst.   They extended their lead further on kills by Vanderhorst and Ziamana Spikes.  However, the Warriors came to within four on an ace by Emily Ellis.  Despite kills by Amber Bass, the Broncos went on to win the third set 25-8.

Set Four
Southern Wesleyan attacked first in the fourth set on an ace by Cara Martin and kill by Amber Bass.  They continued to push ahead on a kill by Jesse Soles and blocks by Riley Young and Ashley Holford.  The Broncos challenged with kills by Kalee Vanderhorst and Da'Nesha Miller, but it was not enough as the Warriors maintained a strong defense to cut down their attacks.  Kills by Holford allowed the Warriors to take the fourth set in a 25-22 final.

Set Five
The Warriors took the first point on an ace by Cara Martin and then extended their lead to 2-0 on a kill by Emily Ellis.  However, the Broncos countered with a kill by Ziamana Spikes and ace by Jaida Bynum.  Fayetteville State extended their lead on a kill by Da'Nesha Miller, but a kill by Riley Young allowed the Warriors to stop their advance.  Despite a kill and ace by Jesse Soles, the Broncos won the set 15-11.
 


What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the Beat the Beam tournament on September 11 as they take on the Johnson C Smith Golden Bulls at noon and then the UVA-Wise Cavaliers at 6 p.m.  The Warriors will open up Conference Carolinas action on September 24 as they host the North Greenville Crusaders in Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 7 p.m.  They will then travel to Banner Elk, NC on September 28 to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats at 7 p.m.