Augusta, GA – Southern Wesleyan picked up their first victory of the 2022 season on Tuesday evening as they defeated the Paine Lions in a 3-0 final score.

The Warriors posted a 31.2% hitting percentage in their first victory of the season.  Southern Wesleyan recorded 34 kills with both Amber Bass and Abigail Gannaio leading the team with eight.  Ashley Sexton recorded 21 of the 30 assists.  Bass the led the team with nine aces with Gavirelle Elswick following with three and Carter Duggins recording two.  Duggins led the team with 14 digs.
 


Match Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 3, Paine 0
        Set One: Southern Wesleyan 25, Paine 13
        Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 25, Paine 6
        Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 25, Paine 16
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-7) Paine (0-4)
 


How It Happened
Set One
The Warriors charged out of the gate as Amber Bass and Gavirelle Elswick put down kills to give Southern Wesleyan a 3-0 point advantage.  Kills by Bass, Riley Young and Trinity Eichman gave the Warriors a five point lead.  The Lions countered as kills by Akirah McCrae and Kennedy Williams allowed Paine to come within three points of Southern Wesleyan.  The Warriors maintained the intensity as kills by Emily Ellis and Abigail Gannaio allowed them to regain their six point advantage.  Southern Wesleyan continued to push ahead as they won the first set in a 25-13 point final.
 
Set Two
Paine took the first point of the second set on a kill by Akirah McCrae, but Southern Wesleyan countered with a kill by Abigail Gannaio.  The Lions fought back to tie the set up, but kills by Ellie Johnson and Amber Bass put the Warriors back on top.  A series of service aces by Amber Bass allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to 18-5.  The Lions took another point, but the Warriors would not relent as kills by Riley Young and Abigail Gannaio allowed Southern Wesleyan to take a 25-6 point victory.
 
Set Three
The Lions took the first point of the second set on a kill by Najla Betts, but kills by Abigial Gannaio, Trinity Eichman and Gavirelle Elswick allowed the Warriors to take a 3-1 point lead.  Paine countered as blocks by Akirah McCrae and Betts, and an ace by Makayla Evans allowed the Lions to tie the third set up 4-4.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Gavirelle Elswick laid down a kill to put the Warriors back on top.  The Warriors pushed further ahead as an ace by Amber Bass gave them a three point lead.  Paine challenged, but Southern Wesleyan would not relent their attacks as they took the final set in a 25-16 point final.
 

 
What's Next

The Warriors will host their home and Conference Carolinas opener on September 14 as they welcome the North Greenville Crusaders to Tysinger Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. match.  The Warriors will travel to Bristol, TN on September 17 to take on the King Tornado before returning home to host the Lees-McRae Bobcats on September 20.