Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in an exciting match to the UNC Pembroke Braves on Saturday afternoon in a 3-0 final.
The Warriors picked up 33 kills with Emily Ellis leading the team with 10. Gracie Wilson recorded seven kills and Trinity Eichman had six. Southern Wesleyan recorded 30 assists with senior Ashley Sexton leading the team with 15. Freshman Hannah Wilson picked up 10 assists. Gracie Wilson picked up three aces and went on to lead the team in blocks with five. Behind her, Gavrielle Elswick with four blocks and Trinity Eichman had three.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 18
Set Two Final: UNC Pembroke 26, Southern Wesleyan 24
Set Three Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-9 / CC 0-4) UNC Pembroke (7-7 / CC 2-2)
How It Happened
Set One
The Warriors took the first point on a kill by Ashley Sexton, but a kill by Abby Peduzzi scored. Kills by Gracie Wilson and Trinity Eichman allowed Southern Wesleyan to tie the set back up 4-4. The Braves pushed on with kills by Vanja Przulj. Southern Wesleyan challenged as Ellie Moore and Wilson blocked an attack by Emma Fraidenburg. The Braves regained the lead on an ace by Kyleigh Coghlan. The Warriors came back to within two points of the Braves on a kill by Trinity Eichman. UNC Pembroke pushed ahead to take the first set in a 25-18 final.
Set Two
UNC Pembroke took the first point on a kill by Emma Fraidenburg, however Ashley Sexton passed the ball over to Gracie Wilson for a kill to tie the set back up. The Braves would not back down, but kills by Emily Ellis and Gavrielle Elswick kept the Warriors within one. UNC Pembroke took a seven point lead on a kill by Vanja Przulj. Southern Wesleyan battled back with kills by Trinity Eichman, Michaela Andress and Ellis. The Warriors would not relent as Gracie Wilson put down back-to-back service aces. Emily Ellis put down a kill to put Southern Wesleyan back within one point of UNC Pembroke. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge UNC Pembroke as they tied the second set up at twenty-four points apiece on a kill by Trinity Eichman. The Braves went on to win the second set in a 26-24 final score.
Set Three
The Braves attacked quickly in the third set with a kill by Emma Fraidenburg and a block by Katelynn Swain. The Warriors fought back as kills by Michaela Andress and Emily Ellis tied the set up 4-4. Swain laid down an ace to allow the Braves to take a three point lead. Ashley Sexton passed the ball over to Gavrielle Elswick who knocked down a kill to put the Warriors back within two points. UNC Pembroke would not relent as they blocked Southern Wesleyan's attacks. Kills by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to stay within one point of the Braves. Despite blocks by Trinity Eichman and Gavrielle Elswick, the Warriors fell to the Braves in the final set in a 25-20 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on September 26 as they welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium. The Warriors will then travel to Murfreesboro, NC on September 29 to take on the Chowan Hawks and then travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs on September 30. They will remain on the road on October 4 as they take on the UVA Wise Cavaliers.
