Franklin Springs, GA – Southern Wesleyan dropped both of their day one matches in the Lions' Den Invitational on Friday.  They fell to Wingate in a 3-0 final in the morning to start the tournament.  The Warriors challenged the Lee Flames in their second match of the day before falling to them in a 3-0 final.

The Warriors picked up 11 kills in their first match of the tournament with Megan Gilliland leading the team with four.  Ashley Sexton recorded six assists.  Southern Wesleyan totaled five aces with Gracie Wilson picking up two on her own.  Kristina Pino and Michaela Andress led the team with six digs each.

Southern Wesleyan totaled 24 kills against the Lee Flames.  Angel Jimenez led the team with seven with both Megan Gilliland and Emily Ellis following with five.  Ashley Sexton picked up 11 assists and freshman Hannah Wilson followed with 10.  Wilson went on to lead the team with two of the three aces of the match.  The Warriors recorded 17 blocks with junior Trinity Eichman leading the team with six.  Kristina Pino recorded 15 digs.
 
 


Match Vitals
Southern Wesleyan vs Wingate
Set One: Wingate 25, Southern Wesleyan 6
Set Two: Wingate 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
Set Three: Wingate 25, Southern Wesleyan 14
 
Southern Wesleyan vs Lee
Set One: Lee 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Two: Lee 25, Southern Wesleyan 23
Set Three: Lee 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-4) Wingate (5-0) Lee (5-1)
 
 


How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan vs Wingate
Set One
The Bulldogs took the first points of the set as they quickly took a 4-0 point advantage before the Warriors took a time out.  Errors by Wingate allowed the Warriors to get on the board.  However, the Bulldogs would not relent as kills by Gabby Saye extended their lead to ten points.  Angel Jimenez killed the ball for the Warriors, however the Bulldogs took the first set in a 25-6 final.
 
Set Two
Wingate took the first point of the second as Emily Johnson delivered a kill for the Bulldogs.  However, the Warriors challenged as Ashley Sexton set the ball up for Michaela Andress who killed it to put Southern Wesleyan down 4-1.  Errors by the Bulldogs allowed the Warriors to stay within three points and then an ace by Gracie Wilson cut Wingate's lead down to two.  Kills by Megan Gilliland and Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to challenge.  Andress put up another kill to put the Warriors down 18-11 to the Bulldogs.  Kills by Andress and Gilliland allowed the Warriors to stay within seven.  However, the Bulldogs went on to claim the second set 25-15.
 
Set Three
The Bulldogs jumped out early on a kill by Rayah Givens and ace by Taylor Robertson.  Emma Ronaldson killed the ball for the Warriors.  Wingate attacked again, but an assisted block by Megan Gilliland and Trinity Eichman allowed the Warriors to come to 8-3 behind the Bulldogs.  Southern Wesleyan chipped away at Wingate's lead on kills by Angel Jimenez and Emily Ellis, but an assisted block by Wingate's own Givens and Gabby Saye stopped the Warriors attacks from continuing further.  The Bulldogs challenged, but service errors allowed the Warriors to threaten again.  Katie Fulton put down an ace and Gilliland killed the ball off a pass from Ashley Sexton to keep the Warriors within four points.  However, Wingate pushed on to win the final set in a 25-14 final.
 

Southern Wesleyan vs Lee
Set One
Southern Wesleyan took the first point of the opening set as Megan Gilliland and Gracie Wilson blocked the ball.  The Flames countered but kills by Wilson and Trinity Eichman allowed the Warriors to regain the lead.  The Warriors and Flames battled back and forth as each exchanged the lead several times over the next few points.  Angel Jimenez killed the ball to put the Warriors ahead 9-8.  However, the Flames fought back on kills by Naomi Hockless to give them a three point advantage.  Despite an assisted block by Wilson and Jimenez, the Flames won the first set in a 25-20 final score.
 
Set Two
Megan Gilliland gave the Warriors the early lead in set two as she killed the ball of an assist by Ashley Sexton.  Emma Ronaldson followed with a service ace to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 2-0.  The Flames tied the set up on back-to-back kills by Abby Stroh.  The Warriors fought back to take the lead on an ace by Hannah Wilson.  Lee countered as kills by Allie Scurlock put them back on top.  Kills by Gilliland allowed the Warriors to take a two point lead.  The Flames challenged right back as Naomi Hockless and Julia Davis each put down kills.  A kill by Emily Ellis off a pass from Sexton kept the Warriors within two points of the Flames.  Despite a service ace by Hannah Wilson, the Warriors fell in set two to the Flames in a 25-23 final.
 
Set Three
Lee took the first point of the third set on a kill by Allie Scurlock.  The Flames continued to push ahead until kills by Gracie Wilson put the Warriors on the board.  Southern Wesleyan came to within one point of Lee on a kill by Emily Ellis.  Lee challenged Southern Wesleyan, but a kill by Angel Jimenez allowed the Warriors to stay within two points of the Flames.  Emma Ronaldson put down a kill, but Lee extended their lead to seven points on kills by Scurlock and Petty.  Despite kills by Jimenez and Gilliland, the Warriors could not pass the Flames as Lee took the final set in a 25-15 final.
 
 


 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the Lions' Den Invitational on September 9 as they travel back to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks at 3 pm.  The Warriors will kick off Conference Carolinas action on September 15 as they travel down the road to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet.  They will remain on the road on September 20 as they take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 7 pm.