Newberry, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped both matches on Friday afternoon.  The Warriors fell to West Alabama in the first match in a 3-0 final, and then dropped the second match against Valdosta State in a 3-1 final.

The Warriors collected 26 kills in the first match of the afternoon.  Amber Bass led the team with seven kills with Carter Duggins following with five.  Southern Wesleyan recorded 15 assists in the match with Kali Letcher leading the team with 11.  Letcher, Kristina Pino and Gavirelle Elswick all picked up service aces.  The Warriors had 35 total digs with Bass leading the team with 15.

Southern Wesleyan collected 30 kills in the second match of the day.  Amber Bass and Abigail Gannaio led the team with eight kills apiece.  The Warriors had 26 assists with Kali Letcher leading the team with 12 and Ashley Sexton following with 11. Letcher had two service aces.  Both Amber Bass and Gavirelle Elswick led the team with three blocks on the afternoon.  The Warriors picked up 57 digs in the second match of the day.

 
 
Matches Vitals
Match One:Southern Wesleyan vs West Alabama           
                Set One: West Alabama 26, Southern Wesleyan 24
                Set Two: West Alabama 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
                Set Three: West Alabama 25, Southern Wesleyan 23
                Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-4) West Alabama (1-4)
Match Two: Southern Wesleyan vs Valdosta State
                Set One: Valdosta State 25, Southern Wesleyan 17
                Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 25, Valdosta State 20
                Set Three: Valdosta State 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
                Set Four: Valdosta State 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
                Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-5) Valdosta State (2-4)
 

 
How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan vs West Alabama
Set One
West Alabama took the first points of the match.  Southern Wesleyan countered with kills by Amber Bass and Riley Young.  However, the Tigers continued to push ahead with kills by Amelia Johnigan and Johanna Martin.  The Warriors fought back as Young and Trinity Eichman blocked the Tigers' attacks from paying off.  Southern Wesleyan came within four of West Alabama on a kill by Abigail Gannaio.  However, the Tigers went on to win the first set 26-24.
 
Set Two
The Tigers struck first in the second set as Johanna Martin blocked the Warriors' attack.  However, the Warriors quickly countered as Carter Duggins and Emily Ellis each put down kills to put Southern Wesleyan ahead 2-1.  The lead was short lived as West Alabama regained the lead on kills by Madison Fisher and Amelia Johnigan.  The Warriors attacked again as Amber Bass and Trinity Eichman drilled the ball over the net to pick up kills.  Johnigan collected three aces to extend the Tigers lead.  Despite late kills by Carter Duggins, the Tigers claimed the second set in a 25-20 final.
 
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan took the lead in the third set as Kristina Pino laid down a service ace.  West Alabama took the lead on kills by Nathalia Medeiros and Maddie Van Dyke.  However, the Warriors continued to challenge as Abigail Gannaio put down a kill and Kali Letcher got down a service ace.  The Tigers maintained the lead on an ace by Chyna Dixon.  An assisted block by Gannaio and Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to come within one of the Tigers.  West Alabama went on to win the final set in a 25-23 final score.
 

Southern Wesleyan vs Valdosta State
Set One
Valdosta State charged out of the match in the first set as aces by Kylie Stroehlein gave them the early lead.  A kill by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to pick up their second point of the set.  The Warriors continued to challenge with blocks by Amber Bass and Gavirelle Elswick.  Kills by Kylie Stroehlein and Christina Pettigrew allowed Valdosta State to extend their lead.  Despite kills by Bass and Abigail Gannaio, Valdosta State took the first set in a 25-17 final.
 
Set Two
Attack errors by Valdosta State allowed the Warriors to take the lead in the second set.  The Warriors continued to push ahead as Amber Bass delivered a kill.  Valdosta State challenged with a kill by Kylie Stroehlein and ace by Christina Pettigrew.  However, kills by Riley Young, Trinity Eichman and Abigail Gannaio allowed the Warriors to keep the set close.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as a kill by Kali Letcher allowed the Warriors to win the second set 25-20.
 
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan took the first point of the third set on a kill by Abigail Gannaio.  The Warriors extended their lead to 3-0 as Ellie Johnson collected a service ace.  However, Valdosta State challenged back with a kill by Jojo Smith.  Valdosta State continued to push ahead with kills by Christina Pettigrew and Smith.  Despite late kills by Emily Ellis and Amber Bass, Valdosta State took the third set 25-16.
 
Set Four
The Warriors kicked off the fourth set with a kill by Riley Young.  Valdosta State challenged with kills by Mallory Roney.  Southern Wesleyan maintained the lead with kills by Emily Ellis.  Aces by Lyara Rosario allowed Valdosta State to take the lead.  Kills by Abigail Gannaio and Riley Young kept the set close, but Valdosta State went on to win the set in a 25-16 final.
 
 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the Newberry College Volleyball Invitational on Saturday as they take on West Alabama at 2 p.m. and then Newberry at 7 p.m. on Saturday.  The Warriors will then travel to Augusta, GA to take on Paine College at 6 p.m. on September 6.  Southern Wesleyan will host their home opener and open up Conference Carolinas action on September 14 as welcome the North Greenville Crusaders to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 7 p.m.