Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan challenged Lees-McRae on Tuesday evening, but fell in a 3-1 final.

The Warriors collected 30 kills in the loss to the Bobcats.  Amber Bass led the team with nine kills.  She was followed by Abigail Gannaio with six kills.  Ashley Sexton led the team with 14 assists while Kali Letcher followed with 10.  Carter Duggins recorded two service aces.  Gavirelle Elswick was a part of five of the seven blocks during the match.  Southern Wesleyan had 65 total digs in the game with Kristina Pino leading the team with 24.
 

 
Match Vitals
Final: Lees-McRae 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
                Set One: Southern Wesleyan 25, Lees-McRae 17
                Set Two: Lees-McRae 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
                Set Three: Lees-McRae 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
                Set Four: Lees-McRae 25, Southern Wesleyan 13
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-10 / CC 0-3) Lees-McRae (1-11 / CC 1-2)
 
 
 
How It Happened
Set One
The Bobcats took the first point of the match on a kill by Julia Emore.  Southern Wesleyan countered with kills by Abigail Gannaio and Amber Bass to put the Warriors behind the Bobcats 2-3.  The Warriors continued to challenged as Trinity Eichman killed the ball to put the Warriors up 4-3.  Amber Bass put down more kills to allow the Warriors to take a 12-5 point lead in the first set of the match.  Lees-McRae countered as an ace by Madison Goins put them within four points of the Warriors, but the Warriors continued to extend their lead with kills by Gannaio and Eichman.  Southern Wesleyan went on to claim the first set 25-17.
 
Set Two
Southern Wesleyan took the first point of the second set, but a kill by Destiny Holley allowed Lees-McRae to tie the set up.  The Bobcats took a 5-2 point lead on kills by Sydney Stigler and Julia Emore.  The Warriors were not deterred as a kill by Emily Ellis allowed them to tie the set up 5-5.  The Bobcats pushed ahead, but kills by Gavirelle Elswick and Riley Young tied the set up 10-10.  Carter Duggins laid down an ace to put the Warriors back on top 12-11.  Their lead was short lived as the Bobcats took a three point lead on a kill by Annalaine Tew.  The Warriors challenged back, but the Bobcats went on to win the second set 25-20.
 
Set Three
The Warriors took a 2-0 point lead in the first set on a kill by Trinity Eichman.  Lees-McRae countered with a kill and block by Destiny Holley to put the Bobcats ahead 3-2.  The Warriors challenged as blocks by Amber Bass and Gavirelle Elswick put the Warriors down 7-6.  Tiyonnah Brown killed the ball to allow the Warriors to tie the set up 9-9.  Lees-McRae went on an eight point run to put them ahead 17-9.  A kill by Amber Bass and blocks by Trinity Eichman and Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to come to within seven points.  Lees-McRae went on to win the third set 25-15.
 
Set Four
Lees-McRae took an early 4-0 point lead on kills by Hailey Gilreath, Sydney Stigler and Julia Emore.  The Bobcats would not relent as they continued to extend their lead before a kill by Riley Young stopped their run.  Blocks by Gavirelle Elswick and Emily Ellis put the Warriors down 15-7.  Despite kills by Tiyonnah Brown, Amber Bass and Emily Ellis, the Warriors dropped the fourth set 25-13.
 
 
 
What's Next

The Warriors will travel to Spartanburg, SC on September 23 to take on the Converse Valkyries at 7 p.m.  They will then return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on September 24 to host Emory & Henry at 2 p.m.  Southern Wesleyan will then travel to Due West, SC on September 28 to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet.  They will remain on the road on October 1 to take on the Francis Marion Patriots at 2 p.m.