Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the King Tornado in 3-1 final score on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors collected 39 kills. Gavirelle Elswick led the Warriors with 12 kills.  She was followed by Amber Bass with seven and Cara Martin with five.  Southern Wesleyan recorded 36 assists.  Ashley Sexton led the team with 18 assists while Martin followed with 12.   Sexton and Carter Duggins recorded the lone service aces for the Warriors.  Southern Wesleyan recorded eight total blocks.  Elswick led the team with five blocks with both Riley Young and Tiyonnah Brown following with three.  Ellie Johnson led the team with 25 of the 76 digs.
 


 
Match Vitals

Final: King 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
                Set One: King 25, Southern Wesleyan 23
                Set Two: King 25, Southern Wesleyan 8
                Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 25, King 15
                Set Four: King 25, Southern Wesleyan 20

Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-17 / CC 1-10) King (11-12 / CC 6-6)
 


 
How It Happened

Set One
Southern Wesleyan took an early lead on kills by Tiyonnah Brown and Gavirelle Elswick, but King countered on kills by Abigale Jayne and Hailee Blankenship.  Blocks by Riley Young and Abigail Gannaio allowed the Warriors to take a 7-5 point lead.  King countered as a kill by Chloe Clayton allowed the Tornado to tie the set up 7-7.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as a kill by Trinity Eichman and an assisted block by Elswick and Brown allowed the Warriors to regain their two point lead.  The Tornado pushed ahead to take an 11-9 point lead on a kill by Hailee Blankenship.  Back-to-back kills by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to come within one of the Tornado.  Cara Martin flipped the ball over the net to put the Warriors down 19-18 to the Tornado.  King pushed ahead to win the first set 25-23.
 
Set Two
The Tornado charged out of the gate with kills by Abigale Jayne and an ace by Katie Harless to give them a 3-0 point lead.  Southern Wesleyan countered as a kill by Gavirelle Elswick to keep the Warriors within two.  King would not relent as a kill by Chloe Clayton put them ahead 7-1.  Kills by Abigail Gannaio and Elswick put the Warriors down 15-6.  King went on to win the second set 25-8.
 
Set Three
King took the first point of the third set on an assisted block by Chloe Clayton and Katie Harless.  However, kills by Gavirelle Elswick and Tiyonnah Brown allowed the Warriors to tie the set up 3-3.  The Warriors took the lead on kills by Riley Young.  Southern Wesleyan continued to push ahead as Abigail Gannaio laid down a kill.  Blocks by Elswick and Brown gave the Warriors a five point lead.  King countered, but an assisted block by Trinity Eichman and Young gave the Warriors a 16-9 point lead.  Kills by Hailee Blankenship and Gracia Love put King within five points.  The Warriors would not relent as an ace by Carter Duggins gave them a 25-15 third set victory.
 
Set Four
Carter Duggins gave the Warriors a 1-0 point lead in the fourth set.  The Tornado took the lead on kills by Chloe Clayton and Abigale Jayne.  However, a kill by Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to tie the fourth set up 2-2.  King took the lead, but kills by Amber Bass, Abigail Gannaio and Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to take an 8-7 point lead.  The Tornado countered with a kill by Gracia Love to tie the set up.  The tie was short lived as the Warriors regained the lead on a kill by Elswick.  A kill by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to five points.  King fought back as an ace by Hailee Blankenship tied the set back up.  Despite a kill by Cara Martin, the Tornado took the final set in a 25-20 final.
 

 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will travel to Florence, SC on October 17 to take on the Francis Marion Patriots.  They will remain on the road on October 19 as they travel to Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats.  The Warriors will return home on October 21 and October 22.  They will host the University of Mount Olive Trojans on the 21^st and then the UNC Pembroke Braves on the 22^nd.