Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan picked up their second Conference Carolinas victory of the season on Friday evening as they defeated the Young Harris Mountain Lions in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors totaled 44 kills in the match while posting a .252 hitting percentage. Both Angel Jimenez and Gracie Wilson had 11 kills in the match, with freshman Karson Haley following with nine kills. Amiyah Spann had 21 assists. Southern Wesleyan served in three aces with Jimenez leading the Warriors with two.
Southern Wesleyan recorded 69 digs. Libero Faith Paxton led the team with 16. Right behind her, both Micheala Andress (15) and Angel Jimenez (13) had double digits in digs. The Warriors blocked 14 attacks on the net. Gracie Wilson was a part of four blocks while both Trinity Gibson and Jimenez were apart of three.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 20
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 13
Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 18
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-6 / CC 2-3) Young Harris (2-7 / CC 2-4)
How It Happened
Set One
Southern Wesleyan went on the offensive quickly against Young Harris as both Gracie Wilson and Angel Jimenez drilled the ball down for kills. Nicole Klucharich attempted to put the Mountain Lions on the board, but Wilson and Megan Gilliland blocked her attack on the net. The Warriors would not back down as Gilliland delivered back-to-back kills to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 9-2. An ace by Lyza Thigpen put Young Harris within four points of the Warriors. The Warriors pushed on with another kill by Gracie Wilson. Wilson continued the intensity on the net as she laid down several more kills to give Southern Wesleyan a 25-20 first set victory.
Set Two
An attack error by the Mountain Lions put the Warriors on the board first in set two, but Young Harris tied the set up on the next play off a kill by Nicole Klucharich. Kills by Megan Gilliland and Trinity Gibson allowed Southern Wesleyan to regain the advantage. Amiyah Spann set the ball up for Karson Haley who delivered a quick kill to extend the Warriors lead to five. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as they went on a six point run off kills by Angel Jimenez, Karson Haley and Gracie Wilson. Lyza Thigpen and Kathryn Urbanek were able to get up and block Mikaylah Hutton's next attack on the net. However, Trinity Gibson and Angel Jimenez blocked one of the Mountain Lion attacks in return to prevent them from cutting into the Warriors lead any further. A kill by Trinity Gibson allowed Southern Wesleyan to go on to claim the second set in a 25-13 point final.
Set Three
Young Harris charged out of the gate in the final set of the evening as kills by Alexa Berry, Abby Schirm and Kathryn Urbanek put them on top 4-2. Angel Jimenez drilled down back-to-back kills to keep the Warriors within one point of the Mountain Lions. The Warriors continued to battle back as Karson Haley and Gracie Wilson blocked an attack off the hands of Rylie Sprinter. Kills by Gracie Wilson, Ellie Moore and Angel Jimenez then allowed the Warriors to take the lead for the first time in the final set. The Mountain Lions and the Warriors exchanged the lead several more times. Jimenez and Faith Paxton each served in aces over the next few plays. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as they went on a five point run to claim the final set in a 25-18 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on October 12 as they host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 2pm. They will then host the Emmanuel Lions on October 15 at 6pm. The Warriors will hit the road to Charlotte, NC on October 17 as they will take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats at the Charlotte County Day School
