Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the road match to the Converse Valkyries on Friday evening in a 3-1 final score.

The Warriors collected 37 kills in the loss to the Valkyries.  Amber Bass led the team with 13 kills with Abigail Gannaio following with 10 kills.  Ashley Sexton had 19 assists.  Sexton went on to lead the team with two of the four aces.  Southern Wesleyan had 70 digs with Kristina Pino leading the team with 24.  Amber Bass led the team with two blocks.
 
 

Match Vitals

Final: Converse 3, Southern Wesleyan 1
                Set One: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
                Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 25, Converse 15
                Set Three: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
                Set Four: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 19

Records:  Southern Wesleyan (1-11 / CC 0-4) Converse (6-7 / CC 3-2)
 

 
How It Happened
Set One
Converse took the first point of the set on a kill by Jasmine Finkley, but kills by Amber Bass and Emily Ellis allowed Southern Wesleyan to take a 2-1 point lead.  Kills by Bass allowed the Warriors to maintain their lead.  The Valkyries countered, but the Warriors maintained the lead with kills by Riley Young and Tiyonnah Brown.  Converse pushed ahead to take a 12-10 point lead on a kill by Evelyn Fitz.  Despite kills by Abigail Gannaio, the Valkyries took the first set 25-16.
 
Set Two
The Valkyries took an early lead as Jasmine Finkley and Evelyn Fitz each killed the ball.  However, the Warriors quickly countered on a kill by Gavirelle Elswick and blocks by Elswick and Amber Bass to tie the set up 2-2.  Southern Wesleyan went on a run with kills by Bass, Elswick and Emily Ellis to extend their lead to 7-2.  A kill by Ellis allowed the Warriors to take an eight point lead.  The Valkyries challenged back with kills by Maddie Mount and Anna Rabon.  Southern Wesleyan maintained the pressure as Abigail Gannaio laid down kills to regain the Warriors six point advantage.  Southern Wesleyan went on to take the second set 25-15.
 
Set Three
The Warriors kicked off the third set on an ace by Ashley Sexton.  Southern Wesleyan went on to take a 3-1 point lead on a block by Amber Bass.  The Valkyries challenged as Evelyn Fitz and Anna Rabon put down kills to tie the third set up 4-4.  Converse continued to push ahead as Mackenzie Schmucker laid down an ace to allow them to take a four point lead.  Southern Wesleyan challenged with kills by Abigail Gannaio and Gavirelle Elswick.  However, the Valkyries won the third set 25-16.
 
Set Four
Savannah Ducote put down an ace to give Converse the early lead in the fourth set, but a kill by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to tie the set up.  The Valkyries took a 4-3 point lead on an ace by Jasmine Finkley.  Abigail Gannaio killed the ball to put the Warriors down 8-9.  The Valkyries continued to push ahead with kills by Finkley to give them a 12-8 point lead.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as Bass laid down kills to get Converse within two points.  The Warriors came within one point of the Valkyries as Carter Duggins laid down a kill.  However, the Valkyries took a four point lead on kills by Mackenzie Schmucker and Fitz.  Converse went on to win the final set 25-19.
 
 
 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on September 24 as they host the Emory & Henry Wasps at 2 p.m.  They will then travel to Due West, SC on September 28 to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet.  The Warriors will remain on the road on October 1 as they travel to Florence, SC to take on the reining Conference Carolinas champion Francis Marion Patriots at 2 p.m.  Southern Wesleyan will then host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on October 4.