Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in a 3-1 final on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors totaled 59 kills in the match. Megan Gilliland and Gracie Wilson each had 14 kills with Michaela Andress following with 10. Of the 58 assists, Katie Fulton recorded 28 and Amiyah Spann had 23. Southern Wesleyan recorded six aces in the victory. Spann and Angel Jimenez each had two.
Southern Wesleyan recorded 86 digs in the match. Libero Faith Paxton led the team with 32 digs. Micheala Andress had 17 digs and Angel Jimenez recorded 14. The Warriors blocked 19 attacks by the Crusaders. Trinity Gibson led the team with seven blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 16
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 28, Belmont Abbey 26
Set Three Final: Belmont Abbey 27, Southern Wesleyan 25
Set Four Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 21
Records: Southern Wesleyan (6-6 / CC 3-3) Belmont Abbey (6-10 / CC 4-3)
How It Happened
Set One
Southern Wesleyan struck first as Michaela Andress laid down the first kill of the match. However, a block by Chloe Lowder allowed the Crusaders to take the lead. Lola Sultenfuss went on the attack, but Karson Haley and Trinity Gibson got up to block their attack. Belmont Abbey pushed on as a kill by Sultenfuss allowed them to take the lead. A kill by Ellie Moore allowed the Warriors to tie the set back up. Southern Wesleyan continued their run as blocks by Megan Gilliland and Gracie Wilson, and a kill by Wilson put them ahead 14-10. Amiyah Spann served in an ace to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to seven. Megan Gilliland drilled the ball down for a kill to give the Warriors a 25-16 victory in the first set.
Set Two
Belmont Abbey attacked quickly in the second set as Katie Brookins and Cailyn Myers put down kills. However, the Warriors fought back with kills by Gracie Wilson and Micheala Andress to keep the Warriors within one. The Crusaders pushed on as a kill by Lola Sultenfuss extended their lead to 7-5. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as kills by Gracie Wilson, Ellie Moore and Micheala Andress kept the Warriors within three points of the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey distanced themselves further with kills by Sultenfuss, but the Warriors countered as Trinity Gibson and Megan Gilliland blocked their next attack. A kill by Karson Haley was the start of a scoring run by the Warriors that led to them tying the second set up 24-24. Back-to-back kills by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to claim the second set in a 28-26 final score.
Set Three
Gracie Wilson kicked off the third set with a kill. Belmont Abbey countered with a kill and an ace by Katie Brookins. Southern Wesleyan regained the lead with kills by Katie Fulton and Megan Gilliland. Kills by Karson Haley allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to 10-6. The Crusaders would not back down as kills by Chloe Lowder and Tyler Case tied the set up once again. The Warriors countered each of the Crusaders attacks to keep the set tied up. Katie Fulton set the ball up for Ellie Moore who put down a kill to give the Warriors the lead once again. However, Belmont Abbey pushed on as a kill by Emma Youngblood allowed them to win the third set in a 27-25 final score.
Set Four
The Warriors struck quickly in the final set as Megan Gilliland laid down a kill off a pass from Katie Fulton. Tyler Case put down a kill to tie the set up. The Crusaders went on the attack again, but Ellie Moore and Trinity Gibson blocked the attack by Cailyn Myers. Amiyah Spann served in an ace to extend the Warriors lead to four. The lead was short lived as the Crusaders battled back with kills by Lola Sultenfuss and Adeline Mezzanotte to tie the set up 8-8. Trinity Gibson put down a kill to regain the Warriors advantage. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as kills by Megan Gilliland and Gibson gave the Warriors a 16-13 point lead. Angel Jimenez served in back-to-back aces. The Warriors would not relent as a kill by Megan Gilliland allowed the Warriors to claim a 25-21 point victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on October 15 as they host the Emmaneul Lions at 6pm. They will then hit the road to Charlotte, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats at the Charlotte Country Day School. They will remain on the road on October 19 as they take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans.
