Milledgeville, GA – Southern Wesleyan challenged Limestone in their first match of the season, but fell in a 3-1 final score.

The Warriors collected 46 total kills with senior Amber Bass leading the team with 14.  She was followed by Emily Ellis with 11 and Abigail Gannaio with seven.  Ashley Sexton recorded 23 assists in the match.  Southern Wesleyan had four service aces with both Kristina Pino and Bass recording two.  Gavirelle Elswick had three assisted blocks with three Warriors following with two blocks.  Pino led the team with 18 of the 61 digs.
 

Game Vitals

Final: Limestone 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
Set One: Limestone 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
Set Two: Limestone 30, Southern Wesleyan 28
Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 25, Limestone 23
Set Four:  Limestone 25, Southern Wesleyan 16

Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Limestone (1-0)
 

 
How It Happened

Set One
Limestone charged out of the gates, taking a 5-0 lead before a kill by Emily Ellis put the Warriors on the board.  The Warriors continued to fight back against the Saints as both Carter Duggins and Amber Bass recorded kills.  Limestone was not discouraged as they continued to extend their lead on an assisted block by Rothani Allen and Emily Cole.  An ace by Bass put the Warriors within seven, however the Saints went on to take the first set in a 25-16 final.
 
Set Two
Emily Ellis put down a kill for the first point of the second set to give the Warriors the early lead, however the Saints quickly countered with a kill by Leilani Wilcox Nanai to put them back ahead.  Limestone continued to push ahead, but attack errors by the Saints allowed the Warriors to come within one.  The Saints extended their lead with kills by Mia Martinez.  The Warriors stayed within seven points of the Saints with kills by Riley Young and Amber Bass.  Southern Wesleyan cut further into Limestone's lead as kills by Emily Ellis and blocks by Ellis and Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to come to 23-24 behind the Saints.  Both teams battled back and forth for the final few points, but Limestone walked away with a 30-28 point victory in set two.
 
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan attacked early in the third set of the match as kills by Amber Bass put them on top 5-1.  The Warriors blocked the Saints attacks as Trinity Eichman, Riley Young and Amber Bass each collected blocks.  A kill by Abigail Gannaio extended the Warriors lead to seven points.  Kristina Pino delivered an ace to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 14-6.  Limestone challenged back, but three consecutive kills by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to maintain their seven point lead.  Kills by Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to take the third set in a 25-23 point victory.
 
Set Four
Limestone pushed ahead early in the final set of the match on kills by Malina Harris, Emily Cole and Mia Martinez.  However, the Warriors countered with a kill by Emily Ellis to allow them to stay within three points of the Saints.  Limestone continued to challenge the Southern Wesleyan defense.  An ace by Amber Bass kept the Warriors within five.  Carter Duggins and Ellis each delivered kills to put the Warriors down 11-18.  Despite late kills by Gavirelle Elswick and Bass, the Saints went on to win the fourth set in a 25-16 final.
 

 
What's Next

The Warriors will continue in the Bobcat Classic on August 27 as they take on West Virginia State at 10 am and Georgia College at 4 pm.  Southern Wesleyan will then travel to Newberry, SC to take part in the Newberry College Volleyball Invitational on September 2 and 3 where they will take on West Alabama, Valdosta State and Newberry College.  The Warriors will travel to Augusta, GA on September 6 to take on Paine College at 6 pm.