Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell in a dramatic game against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Friday evening in a 3-2 final score.
The Warriors totaled 41 kills against the Crusaders with Michaela Andress leading the team with 11. Gracie Wilson followed Andress with nine kills. Of the 34 assists, Amiyah Spann led the team with 19 assists. Fellow freshman Hannah Wilson followed with 10 assists. Kristina Pino picked up four aces. The Warriors recorded 75 digs in the loss with Andress leading the team with 16. Pino and Hannah Wilson followed with 13. Gracie Wilson recorded 10 blocks, with eight being assisted blocks to set a new school record for assisted blocks in a match.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 16
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 21
Set Three Final: Belmont Abbey 25, Southern Wesleyan 17
Set Four Final: Belmont Abbey 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Five Final: Belmont Abbey 15, Southern Wesleyan 13
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-14 / CC 0-8) Belmont Abbey (2-13 / CC 2-5)
How It Happened
Set One
The Crusaders took the first point on a kill by Tyler Case, but Ellie Moore laid down a kill to allow the Warriors to tie the set back up. Southern Wesleyan kept the set tied up on kills by Michaela Andress and Amiyah Spann. Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Gracie Wilson put down back to back kills to put the Warriors ahead by four Belmont Abbey challenged back on a second kill by Case, but errors by the Crusaders allowed the Warriors to push their lead up to 15-10. Kristina Pino put down an ace and then Emma Ronaldson and Wilson went up for a block to push the Warriors lead to ten. The Warriors went on to win the first set in a 25-16 final.
Set Two
Belmont Abbey struck first in set two on a kill by Lola Sultenfuss. However, kills by Gracie Wilson and Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to take the lead. The Crusaders fought back, but a kill by Andress and ace by Hannah Wilson kept the Warriors on top. An ace by Ella Schellenberg allowed Belmont Abbey to tie the set back up. Southern Wesleyan maintained the pressure as Andress laid down an ace. The Crusaders took the lead on an attack error by the Warriors, but blocks by Gracie Wilson and Emily Ellis allowed the Warriors to get back on top. Southern Wesleyan went on to win the second set in a 25-21 final score.
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan went on the attack in the third set as a kill by Emily Ellis and an assisted block by Ellis and Gracie Wilson gave them the early 3-0 point lead. Belmont Abbey fought back as kills by Cameron Young and Sarah Wilson put them behind the Warriors by one. The Crusaders tied the set up 5-5, but a kill by Emily Ellis allowed the Warriors to take the lead. Kills by Jenna McCullough and Dani Pohl allowed the Crusaders to tie the set once again. The Crusaders thwarted more attacks on blocks by Sarah Wilson, Lola Sultenfuss and Dani Pohl. Michaela Andress took a pass from Hannah Wilson and put down a kill to keep Southern Wesleyan within one of Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders went on to win the third set in a 25-17 final.
Set Four
Kills by Lola Sultenfuss and Sarah Wilson allowed the Crusaders to take the early lead. Southern Wesleyan came to within one on a kill by Emily Ellis. However, the Crusaders would not relent as kills by Cameron Young and Tyler Case extended Belmont Abbey's lead to three points. Southern Wesleyan challenged back as Trinity Eichman and Emma Ronaldson killed the ball. Belmont Abbey pushed on with another set of kills by Case. A kill by Michaela Andress and ace by Hannah Wilson put the Warriors back within two. Back-to-back aces by Kristina Pino put the Warriors down 18-17 to the Crusaders. The Crusaders took the fourth set in a 25-20 final score.
Set Five
Southern Wesleyan attacked quickly on a kill by Emily Ellis, but a kill by Cameron Young allowed the Crusaders to tie the set up 1-1. Michaela Andress laid down a kill and then an attack error by the Crusaders allowed the Warriors to take the lead. An ace by Kristina Pino allowed Southern Wesleyan to extend their lead to three. Emma Ronaldson, Gracie Wilson and Ellie Moore blocked the Crusaders attacks to put the Warriors on top 9-4. The Crusaders fought back as kills by Cameron Young and Lola Sultenfuss kept Belmont Abbey within two. However, a block by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to push their lead to 12-10. Belmont Abbey went on to win the final set in a 15-13 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on October 7 as they travel to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Converse Valkyries at 2 pm. The Warriors will return home on October 13 to take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans at 6pm. They will then host the King Tornado on October 14.
