Murfreesboro, NC – The Warriors dropped the conference match against the Chowan Hawks on Friday evening in a 3-0 final score.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 33 kills. Gracie Wilson led the team with 11 kills with Michaela Andress following with eight. Of the 30 assists, Amiyah Spann led the team with 10. Kali Letcher followed with seven and Kristina Pino picked up six. Wilson had five blocks. Pino led the team with 11 digs with Spann picking up 11 and Andress picking up 10.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Chowan 26, Southern Wesleyan 24
Set Two Final: Chowan 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
Set Three Final: Chowan 25, Southern Wesleyan 22
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-11 / CC 0-6) Chowan (3-11 / CC 2-3)
How It Happened
Set One
The Hawks attacked quickly, but a service ace by Emily Ellis allowed the Warriors to take the lead. A block and kill by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to maintain the lead. Chowan challenged back, but a kill by Michaela Andress allowed Southern Wesleyan to extend their lead to two points. Kills by Caleigh Bergling and Ellie Middleton put the Hawks to back within two points of the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan maintained the pressure with kills by Wilson, Andress and Katie Fulton. However, an ace by Diana Rodriguez allowed Chowan to take the lead. The Warriors tied the set back up on a kill by Emily Ellis. However, Chowan took the first set in a 26-24 final score.
Set Two
Chowan pressured early on in the second set as kills by Kayleigh Lance and Ryan Nored allowed them to take a 6-0 point lead. Gavrielle Elswick killed the ball and Emily Ellis laid down an ace to put the Warriors back within four points of the Hawks. The Hawks would not relent as Caleigh Bergling put down an ace to give Chowan a 10-2 point lead. Southern Wesleyan got back within six on kills by Gracie Wilson and Michaela Andress. Emma Ronaldson and Elswick went up for a block to keep the Warriors within five. Chowan pushed on with kills and an ace by Gigi Ratajesak to win the second set in a 25-16.
Set Three
A kill by Emma Ronaldson gave the Warriors the early lead, but the Hawks countered with a kill by Kayleigh Lance. The Hawks took the lead on a kill by Ryan Nored. Southern Wesleyan stayed within one point of Chowan on kills by Gavrielle Elswick. An ace by Amiyah Spann tied the set up 8-8. The Warriors pushed on with kills by Ronaldson and Gracie Wilson. The Hawks regained the lead on a block by Gigi Ratajesak. Michaela Andress put down a kill and ace to keep the Warriors within one point. Trinity Eichman and Wilson blocked the Hawks attack to tie the third set back up. The Hawks pushed on as kills by Nored allowed them to regain a two point lead. However, an ace by Gigi Ratajesak allowed the Hawks to claim the set in a 25-22 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on September 30 as they travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs. They will then travel to Wise, VA on October 4 to take on the UVA Wise Cavaliers. The Warriors to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on October 6 in Belmont, NC.
