Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Converse Valkyries on Saturday afternoon in a 3-1 final score.
The Warriors collected 43 kills. Micheala Andress led the team with 12 kills. Of the 42 assists the team recorded, Hannah Wilson led the team with 19. She was followed by Amiyah Spann with 17 assists. Gracie Wilson picked up five blocks with Emily Ellis right on her heels with four. Kristina Pino led the team with 17 of the 61 digs. Pino, Spann and Ellie Johnson each had service aces.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Converse 23
Set Three Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 17
Set Four Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 13
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-15 / CC 0-9) Converse (5-12 / CC 4-4)
How It Happened
Set One
The Valkryies came out strong with a kill by Evelyn Fitz. The Warriors countered with kills by Emily Ellis and Michaela Andress. Ellie Johnson laid down an ace to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie the first set up 3-3. Converse pushed on as a block by AC Garbade and Alayah Robertson put them back ahead by two. The Warriors would not relent as kills by Andress, Trinity Eichman and Ellie Moore allowed them to take the lead. Kills by Tori Barr and Evelyn Fitz allowed the Valkryies to take a 14-11 point advantage. They continued to push ahead as Robertson and Garbade blocked another Warrior attack. Converse went on to claim set one in a 25-20 final.
Set Two
The Warriors charged out of the gate in the second set as Amiyah Spann passed the ball over to Gracie Wilson who laid down a kill to give them a 1-0 point lead. However, a service error and then a kill by AC Garbade allowed the Valkyries to take the lead. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Trinity Eichman, Ellie Moore and Emma Ronaldson put down kills to allow the Warriors to regain the lead. Converse fought back, but Southern Wesleyan would not let them pass as Gracie Wilson and Emily Ellis blocked their attack. An ace by Kristina Pino put the Warriors on top 19-16. Kills by Gracie Wilson, Emily Ellis and Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to take the second set in a 25-23 final.
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan took a the early lead as a kill by Ellie Moore and an assisted block by Gracie Wilson and Emily Ellis allowed them to take a 3-1 point lead. However, kills by Tori Barr and Evelyn Fitz quickly allowed the Valkyries to tie the set up 4-4. The Valkyries took the lead on a kill by Alayah Robertson, but the Warriors fought back to tie the set once again on kills by Michaela Andress and Trinity Eichman. Converse extended their lead to three on a kill by Tia Gripado. Eichman laid down a kill off a pass by Hannah Wilson to keep the Warriors within four points of the Valkyries. Converse pushed ahead to win the third set in a 25-17 final.
Set Four
The Warriors took the first points on kills by Gracie Wilson and Michaela Andress. However, the Valkyries countered with kills by Evelyn Fitz and AC Garbade to put them ahead. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as kills by Andress allowed them to stay within one point of Converse. An ace by Tia Gripado, and an assisted block by Fitz and Alayah Robertson allowed the Valkyries to extend their lead to five points. Converse distanced themselves from the warriors on an ace by Mackenzie Schmucker. The Warriors challenged on kills by Emily Ellis and Andress to put them behind the Valkyries 19-10. Converse pushed ahead to win the final set in a 25-13 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymansium on October 13 as they welcome the University of Mount Olive Trojans to Central, SC for a 6 pm first serve. They will then host the King Tornado on October 14. Southern Wesleyan will host the North Greenville Crusaders on October 18 at 7pm.
