Young Harris, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell in their second conference match of the season to the Young Harris Mountain Lions in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors totaled 27 kills in the loss to the Mountain Lions. Emily Ellis led the team with nine kills while Michaela Andress followed with six. Southern Wesleyan picked up 26 assists with Ashley Sexton picking up nine assists. Freshman Hannah Wilson followed with seven. Kristina Pino led the team with eight of the 38 digs with Ellis following with seven and Sexton picking up six. Both Ellis and Andress had aces.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Young Harris 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
Set Two Final: Young Harris 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
Set Three Final: Young Harris 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-7 / CC 0-2) Young Harris (5-5 / CC 2-1)
How It Happened
Set One
Young Harris attacked quickly as kills by Faith Kelly and Alexa Berry gave them the early lead. However, the Warriors battled back with a kill by Ellie Moore. Southern Wesleyan tied the set up on kills by Emily Ellis and Trinity Eichman. Ellis put down a service ace to keep the set tied up at nine points apiece. Michaela Andress and Kristina Pino collected kills to give the Warriors the lead, but it was short lived as a kill by Kelly allowed the Mountain Lions to regain the lead. The Warriors continued to challenge as Ellis collected another kill. However, the Mountain Lions took the first set in a 25-19 final.
Set Two
Once again, the Mountain Lions were the first to attack in the second set. However, a kill and service ace by Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to take a 4-2 point lead. The Warriors pushed further ahead on kills by Emily Ellis and Ellie Moore. The Mountain Lions tied it up, but another kill by Andress kept the Warriors ahead by one. Young Harris took the lead on an ace by Sophie Bearden. The Warriors fought back as Moore collected a pass from Kristina Pino and put down her second kill of the set. However, a kill by Faith Kelly put down a kill to extend the Mountain Lions lead to five. Young Harris went on to take the second set in a 25-15 final.
Set Three
Attack errors by the Warriors put the Mountain Lions ahead early in the third set. Gavrielle Elswick killed the ball to put the Warriors on the board. Kills by Elswick and Trinity Eichman allowed the Warriors to cut the Mountain Lions lead in half. Young Harris would not relent as a kill by Nicole Klucharich and ace by Mollie Lawrence put them ahead 10-3. Michaela Andress hit back-to-back kills to put the Warriors within four points. Southern Wesleyan continued to fight back as a kill by Emily Ellis tied the set up at ten points apiece. The Mountain Lions pushed ahead as Chase Vaigneur killed the ball several times for Young Harris. Young Harris went on to claim the final set in a 25-15 final score.
How It Happened
The Warriors will host their first home game of the 2023 season on September 22 as they welcome the Francis Marion Patriots to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium for a 6pm serve. They will remain at home on September 23 as they host the UNC Pembroke Braves at 2 pm. Southern Wesleyan will host the Emmanuel Lions on September 26.
