Murfreesboro, NC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the conference match-up to the Chowan Hawks on Friday evening in a 3-1 final score.

The Warriors collected 40 kills in the loss to the Hawks.  Amber Bass led the team with 13 kills while Abigail Gannaio followed with 10.  Of the 38 assists, Ashley Sexton  led the team with 15.  Southern Wesleyan collected 11 blocks during the match.  Riley Young led the Warriors with seven blocks.  Cara Martin recorded the lone ace for Southern Wesleyan.  The Warriors collected 73 total digs with Kristina Pino leading the team with 23.
 


 
Match Vitals

Final: Chowan 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
                Set One: Chowan 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
                Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 25, Chowan 20
                Set Three: Chowan 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
                Set Four: Chowan 25, Southern Wesleyan 12

Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-13 / CC 1-6) Chowan (5-12 / CC 2-5)
 
 

 
How It Happened

Set One
The Hawks charged out of the gate with kills by Ellie Middleton and Anixa Rosa-Martinez to give them a 5-0 point lead.  Southern Wesleyan countered with blocks by Amber Bass and Riley Young to put the Warriors back within two points.  Bass laid down kills to put the Warriors down 6-8.  Chowan would not relent their attacks as aces by Alexa Woolson allowed the Hawks to take a 16-8 point lead.  Despite kills by Abigail Gannaio and Amber Bass, the Warriors dropped the first set 25-20.
 
Set Two
Southern Wesleyan upped the intensity in the second set as kills by Emily Ellis and Gavirelle Elswick gave them an early 2-1 point lead.  The Warriors continued to battle as Amber Bass drilled the ball down on the court to give them a 5-3 point lead.  The Hawks challenged, but an assisted block by Abigail Gannaio and Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to take a five point lead.  Chowan's Alexa Woolson put down an ace to put them down 11-8 to Southern Wesleyan.  The Hawks came within two, but kills by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to regain a three point lead.  Southern Wesleyan continued to fight ahead as blocks by Emily Ellis and Elswick gave the Warriors a 25-20 second set victory.
 
Set Three
The Warriors kicked off the third set with a kill by Gavirelle Elswick.  However, the Hawks tied the set up on a kill by Ellie Middleton.  Elswick put down another kill to allow the Warriors to regain their lead.  Southern Wesleyan extended their lead to 8-4 on kills by Amber Bass.  Chowan challenged but blocks by Riley Young and Trinity Eichman thwarted their attacks.  The Hawks came to 13-8 behind the Warriors on aces by Diana Rodriguez.  Kills by Chloe Putnam and Anixa Rosa-Martinez allowed the Hawks to come to within one of the Warriors.  Chowan continued to fight as kills by Rosa-Martinez put them ahead of Southern Wesleyan by one.  Emily Ellis and Riley Young each killed the ball to put the Warriors down 20-23.  However, the Hawks went on to win the third set 25-20.
 
Set Four
Chowan struck quickly in the fourth set as kills by Anixa Rosa-Martinez and Nyah Powers allowed them to take an early 3-0 point lead.  Emily Ellis laid down a kill to put the Warriors on the board.  The Warriors came to within two of the Hawks on a kill by Riley Young.  Chowan continued to push ahead as Ellie Middleton and Madison Hall killed the ball.  A kill by Trinity Eichman and ace by Cara Martin allowed to Warriors to stay within two points of the Hawks.  However, Chowan pushed ahead to take a 21-9 point lead over Southern Wesleyan.  Despite late kills by Amber Bass, the Hawks won the final set 25-12.
 

 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on October 8 as they travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs at 2 p.m.  They will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on October 12 as they host the Emmanuel Lions at 6 p.m.  The Warriors will travel to Tigerville, SC on October 14 to take the North Greenville Crusaders.  They will then host the King Tornado on October 15 at 2 p.m.