Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped a hard fought match against the North Greenville Crusaders on Wednesday evening.
The Warriors picked up 25 kills in the conference match up with Michaela Andress leading the team with eight. Emily Ellis followed with six and Gracie Wilson had five. Wilson went on to have the lone ace of the evening. Hannah Wilson recorded 13 assists. Of the six blocks, both Michaela Andress and Emma Ronaldson had three. Hannah Wilson led the team with nine digs.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: North Greenville 30, Southern Wesleyan 28
Set Two Final: North Greenville 25, Southern Wesleyan 13
Set Three Final: North Greenville 25, Southern Wesleyan 10
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-17 / CC 1-11) North Greenville (19-5 / CC 11-2)
How It Happened
Set One
The Crusaders struck first in the opening set on a kill by Klayton Mathis. However, the Warriors tied it up on a kill by Michaela Andress. North Greenville would not relent as a kill by Jessica Connelly allowed them to take a 6-4 point lead. Emma Ronaldson put down a kill and then blocked an attack by Gabby Rice to allow Southern Wesleyan to take the lead. The Crusaders maintained the pressure as Abigail Durham laid down back-to-back kills to put North Greenville back on top. Amiyah Spann passed the ball over to Gavrielle Elswick who killed the ball to tie the set up at ten points apiece. The Warriors pressed on as blocks by Michaela Andress and Trinity Eichman, and a kill by Emily Ellis allowed them to take a two point lead. The battle waged on with the teams exchanging the lead several times. Gracie Wilson laid down an ace to give the Warriors a 22-20 point advantage, but another kill by Durham allowed the Crusaders to tie the set back up. Despite kills by Emily Ellis and Gracie Wilson, North Greenville took the first set in a 30-28 final score.
Set Two
The Warriors came out swinging as a kill by Gracie Wilson and an attack error by Abigail Durham gave them the early lead. The Crusaders were not discouraged as kills by Durham and a service ace by Isabella Mitchell put them ahead 4-2. Southern Wesleyan would not go down quietly as a kill by Hannah Wilson tied the set up. However, the Crusaders pushed on as a kill by Gabby Rice put them on top by two. They continued to distance themselves from Southern Wesleyan on kills by Durham. Kills by Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to stay within seven. North Greenville persevered as they won the second set in a 25-13 final.
Set Three
North Greenville came out quickly in the final set as kills by Kelli Davis, Gabby Rice and Abigail Durham allowed them to take an early 7-1 point lead. Micheala Andress collected a pass from Hannah Wilson and put down a kill to put the Warriors down five points. Southern Wesleyan fought back, but blocks by Anna Nedwards and Durham prevented each of the Warriors attacks from landing. Gracie Wilson put down a kill off a pass from Ashley Sexton. North Greenville went on to take the third set in a 25-10 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Erskine Flying Fleet on October 20 at 6 pm. They will then take a break from Conference Carolinas action as they welcome the Emory & Henry Wasps to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on October 21 at 2 pm. The Warriors will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on October 25.
