Wise, VA – Southern Wesleyan fell on the road to the UVA Wise Cavaliers on Wednesday evening in a 3-0 final.
The Warriors totaled 20 kills with Michaela Andress leading the team with six. Behind her, Trinity Eichman picked up five kills and Gavrielle Elswick had four. Amiyah Spann picked up 10 of the 20 assists of the evening. Senior Ashley Sexton picked up her 1000th career assist during the second set of the evening. Southern Wesleyan had one assisted block off the hands of Emily Ellis and Sexton. Of the 43 digs the team recorded, junior Kristina Pino had 14.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: UVA Wise 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
Set Two Final: UVA Wise 25, Southern Wesleyan 11
Set Three Final: UVA Wise 25, Southern Wesleyan 8
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-13 / CC 0-7) UVA Wise (8-6 / SAC 2-5)
How It Happened
Set One
The Cavaliers took the early lead as kills by Kaylee Scarce and Morgan Blankenship put them on top 4-0. UVA Wise continued to distance themselves from Southern Wesleyan until Trinity Eichman laid down a kill off a pass from Amiyah Spann. Michaela Andress killed the ball for the second Warrior point. UVA Wise would not relent, but the Warriors fought back as a kill by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to stay within seven points. However, the Cavaliers took the first set in a 25-15 final score.
Set Two
UVA Wise took the first points once again as Kaylee Scarce laid down back-to-back kills. Gavrielle Elswick countered with a kill to cut the Cavaliers lead in half. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as kills by Trinity Eichman and Michaela Andress put the Warriors down 5-3. Kills by Gracie Wilson and Emma Ronaldson allowed the Warriors to come back to within one point of the Cavaliers. UVA Wise pressed on with kills by Scarce which allowed them to extend their lead to four. The Warriors went on the attack, but blocks by Dannah Persinger, Cassidy Farley and Morgan Blevins prevented each of Southern Wesleyan's attacks from paying off. Despite kills by Andress, the Warriors dropped the second set to the Cavaliers in a 25-11 final.
Set Three
Once again, the Cavaliers took the first point of the set as an attack error allowed them to take the lead. They distanced themselves further on a kill by Kaylee Scarce and an assisted block by Cassidy Farley and Morgan Blankenship allowed them to extend their lead to 3-0. A service error by the Cavaliers allowed the Warriors to get on the board. A kill by Michaela Andress off an assist by Amiyah Spann put the Warriors within three. However, the Cavaliers would not relent their attacks as Dannah Persinger laid down back-to-back kills to put them ahead 11-5. The Warriors fought back as Gavrielle Elswick and Trinity Eichman each put down kills. UVA Wise pushed on to win the final set in a 25-8.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will resume Conference Carolinas action on October 6 as they travel to Belmont, NC to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 6 pm. They will remain on the road on October 7 as they travel to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Converse Valkyries at 2 pm.
