Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in their final regular season game of 2022 to the Erskine Flying Fleet in a 3-2 final score.

The Warriors picked up 46 kills in the loss to the Flying Fleet.  Amber Bass led the team with 18 kills.  She was followed by Riley Young with 10 and Emily Ellis with eight.  Of the 38 assists of the evening, Kali Letcher recorded 19.  She was followed by Ashley Sexton with 16.  Southern Wesleyan out blocked Erskine nine to eight.  Bass, Young and Gavirelle Elswick all collected four blocks.  Bass collected 26 of the 87 digs of the evening.  Both Bass and Carter Duggins had service aces.

 
 

Match Vitals

Final: Erskine 3, Southern Wesleyan 2
                Set One: Erskine 25, Southern Wesleyan 10
                Set Two: Erskine 25, Southern Wesleyan 23
                Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 26, Erskine 24
                Set Four: Southern Wesleyan 25, Erskine 23
                Set Five: Erskine 15, Southern Wesleyan 10

Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-24 / CC 1-17) Erskine (9-20 / CC 5-13)
 
 

 
How It Happened

Set One
Erskine broke out early in the first set as they went on a 10-point run before an assisted block by Emily Ellis and Gavirelle Elswick allowed Southern Wesleyan to come to 11-2 behind them.  The Warriors stayed within nine points of the Flying Fleet on kills by Riley Young.  However, the Flying Fleet continued to push ahead as they took the first set in a 25-10 final.
 
Set Two
Southern Wesleyan challenged back in the second set as an ace by Carter Duggins allowed the Warriors to take a 2-1 point lead.  Kills by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to keep the lead, but the Flying Fleet fought back as an ace by Megan Thees tied the second set up 7-7.  The Warriors were not discouraged as they regained a two point lead on kills by Emily Ellis and Gavirelle Elswick.  Blocks by Amber Bass, Tiyonnah Brown and Elswick allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to 14-9.  Erskine rallied back as Grace Schneider laid down a kill to put them within one point of the Warriors.  The Flying Fleet continued to push ahead, and, despite a kill by Amber Bass, claimed a 25-23 second set victory on an ace by Sam Bebber.
 
Set Three
Erskine struck quickly as a kill by Sally Spangler and an ace by Laney Gaston put them ahead 2-0.  However, the Warriors quickly countered as a kill by Amber Bass put Southern Wesleyan ahead 5-4.  The Flying Fleet tied the set back up, but blocks by Amber Bass, Riley Young and Trinity Eichman allowed Southern Wesleyan to regain the lead.  However, an assisteded block by Elani White and Grace Schneider allowed Erskine to take an 11-8 point lead shortly afterwards.  The Warriors chipped away at the Flying Fleet lead as kills by Gavirelle Elsiwck and Bass put them within two points of the Erskine team.  Riley Young killed the ball to put the Warriors behind the Flying Fleet 21-20.  Southern Wesleyan fought back to take the third set in a 26-24 final.
 
Set Four
A kill by Emily Ellis allowed the Warriors to take the early lead in the fourth set.  Erskine fought back as a kill by Grace Schenider put them on top 4-2.  Trailing by six points, Riley Young put down a kill to kick off the Warriors rally.  Kills by Amber Bass and Emily Ellis allowed Southern Wesleyan to continue to challenge the Erskine defense and come to within two points of the Flying Fleet.  Southern Wesleyan continued to battle back as a five point run ending in a kill by Gavirelle Elsiwck gave the Warriors a 15-14 point advantage.  The Flying Fleet tied the fourth set back up, but a kill by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to stay ahead.  Sam Bebber killed the ball for the Flying Fleet to put them back on top, but the lead was short lived as a kill by Emily Ellis allowed the Warriors to tie the set back up.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as a kill by Emily Ellis allowed them to take the fourth set in a 25-23 final.
 
Set Five
Erskine struck quickly in the final set as they went on an eight point run before a kill by Gavirelle Elswick put the Warriors on the board.  Kills by Amber Bass and Ellie Johnson allowed the Warriors to stay within five of the Flying Fleet.  Southern Wesleyan continued to battle back as kills by Riley Young and Amber Bass allowed them to get within three points of Erskine.  However, Erskine would not relent their attacks as they took the final set in a 15-10 final.