Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the Conference Carolinas match-up against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in a 3-2 final on Tuesday evening.

The Warriors collected 51 kills in the five set match against the Crusaders.  Amber Bass led the team with 22 kills.  She was followed by freshman Abigail Gannaio with 10.  Ashley Sexton recorded 25 assists.  Of the eight blocks of the evening, Riley Young led the team with four.  Carter Duggins recorded two of the four aces.  Southern Wesleyan recorded 69 digs with Kristina Pino leading the team with 18. 

 
 
Match Vitals

Final: Belmont Abbey 3, Southern Wesleyan 2
                Set One: Belmont Abbey 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
                Set Two: Belmont Abbey 26, Southern Wesleyan 24
                Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 17
                Set Four: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 23
                Set Five: Belmont Abbey 15, Southern Wesleyan 13

Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-12 / CC 1-5) Belmont Abbey (4-17 / CC 2-5)
 
 

How It Happened

Set One
The Crusaders came out quickly in the first set as blocks by Caitlyn Faber and Baylea Botello gave them a 1-0 point lead.  However, kills by Gavirelle Elswick and Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to tie the first set up 2-2.  Belmont Abbey pushed ahead, but a block by Tiyonnah Brown put Southern Wesleyan on top 7-6.  Kills by Botello and Faber, and a service ace by Mia Samaha allowed the Crusaders to regain the lead.  Southern Wesleyan would not back down as they countered every Belmont Abbey point.  An assisted block by Haley Davidson and Jenna McCullough put Belmont Abbey ahead of Southern Wesleyan 19-14.  Despite kills by Tiyonnah Brown, the Crusaders took the first set 25-19.
 
Set Two
Belmont Abbey took the first point of the second set on a kill by Haley Davidson, however the lead was short lived as kills by Carter Duggins and Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to take a 5-1 point lead.  The Crusaders came within four on a kill by Sarah Wilson.  The Warriors continued to push ahead as Emily Ellis and Amber Bass extended Southern Wesleyan's lead to six.  Riley Young blocked the Crusaders' attacks to put the Warriors ahead 12-3.  The Crusaders battled back as kills by Jenna McCullough and Mia Samaha put them within five points.  Abigail Gannaio killed the ball to extend the Warriors lead to 22-17.  The Crusaders would not relent as an ace by Samaha allowed Belmont Abbey to tie the second set up 22-22.  Belmont Abbey went on to win the second set 26-24.
 
Set Three
The Crusaders took an early lead in the third set as Sarah Wilson killed the ball and Alyssa Adkins put down an ace.  The Warriors were not discouraged as a kill by Abigail Gannaio put Southern Wesleyan on the board.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as kills by Amber Bass and blocks by Riley Young allowed the Warriors to take a 9-4 point lead in the third set.  The Crusaders countered with kills by Baylea Botello and Haley Davidson to tie the set up at twelve points apiece.  However, Southern Wesleyan battled on with kills by Amber Bass to put them ahead 18-13.  Kills by Emily Ellis and Bass allowed the Warriors to take the third set in a 25-17 final.
 
Set Four
Belmont Abbey kicked off the fourth set with a kill by Haley Davidson.  However, Southern Wesleyan countered their attack with a kill by Emily Ellis and an assisted block by Amber Bass and Gavirelle Elswick to give the Warriors a 2-1 point lead.  Kills by Haley Davidson and Jenna McCullough allowed the Crusaders to regain the lead.  The lead was short lived as a kill by Riley Young and block by Amber Bass put the Warriors on top 6-3.  The Crusaders challenged back as kills by McCullough allowed them to tie the fourth set up 10-10.  The Warriors would not relent as kills by Abigail Gannaio allowed Southern Wesleyan to regain their lead.  They continued to push ahead as kills by Bass and Young gave them a 20-18 point lead.  Belmont Abbey fought back to within one of the Warriors, but Southern Wesleyan took a 25-23 point victory in the fourth set.
 
Set Five
Kills by Haley Davidson allowed the Crusaders to take an early 2-0 point lead.  However, the Warriors countered with blocks by Emily Ellis and Gavirelle Elswick to put them within one.  Amber Bass killed the ball to allow the Warriors to come within two of the Crusaders.  Kills by Tiyonnah Brown and Abigail Gannaio put the Warriors down 9-8, however the Crusaders countered with kills by Davidson and Mia Samaha to extend their lead to 11-8.  Despite kills by Amber Bass, the Crusaders won the final set 15-13.

 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will travel to Murfreesboro, NC on October 7 to take on the Chowan Hawks at 6 p.m.  They will remain on the road on October 8 to take on the Barton Bulldogs in Wilson, NC at 2 p.m.  The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on October 12 to host the Emmanuel Lions at 6 p.m.  They will then travel to Tigerville, SC on October 14 to take on the North Greenville Crusaders.