Pembroke, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the UNC Pembroke Braves on Friday evening in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors picked up 32 kills in the match. Sophomore Gracie Wilson led the team with eight kills. Michaela Andress and Karson Haley each had six kills. Katie Fulton picked up 17 assists and Amiyah Spann had 11. Southern Wesleyan had three aces with Andress recording two.
Southern Wesleyan had 54 digs during the match. Michaela Andress was the lone Warrior with double digits in digs as she totaled 15. Of the four blocks, Gracie Wilson had two. Both Angel Jimenez and Mikaylah Hutton also recorded blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 21
Set Two Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 21
Set Three Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 14
Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-9 / CC 5-6) UNC Pembroke (10-13 / CC 7-4)
How It Happened
Set One
Southern Wesleyan took the first points of the opening set off attack errors by the Braves and an ace by Katie Fulton. However, Savannah Whaley and Precious Daley each put down kills and then Whaley served in an ace. Karson Haley and Michaela Andress laid down kills to put the Warriors back on top. Ruby Countryman and Abby Peduzzi went up and blocked an attack by Sarah Mitchell to tie the set back up once again. With the first set tied up at nine, Amiyah Spann set the ball up for Gracie Wilson who drilled the ball down for a kill to give Southern Wesleyan the advantage. The Braves pushed on as McKenna Hayes put down a kill. Emma Ronaldson laid down a kill to keep the Warriors within three. However, kills by Tyler Patterson allowed UNC Pembroke to claim the first set 25-21.
Set Two
The UNC Pembroke Braves jumped out first in the second set as Tyler Patterson served up an ace. The lead was short lived as Sarah Mitchell put down a kill to tie the set back up. Karson Haley and Gracie Wilson laid down back-to-back kills to give the Warriors the lead. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Michaela Andress put down a kill. The Braves came back to within two of the Warriors on a kill by Ruby Countryman. Haley and Andress each put down kills. Southern Wesleyan extended their lead to five on a kill by Emma Ronaldson. The Braves were not discouraged as a kill by Countryman and an ace by Abby Peduzzi allowed them to come to within two. UNC Pembroke went on a six point run to give the Braves a 23-20 point lead. A kill by Katelynn Swain secured the Braves a 25-21 second set victory.
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan took the first point of the final set on a kill by Gracie Wilson, but kills by Savannah Whaley and Abby Peduzzi allowed the Braves to take the lead over the next few rallies. UNC Pembroke pushed on with more kills by Ruby Countryman. The Braves would not relent as they went on a five point run to extend their lead to 12-3. Southern Wesleyan countered with kills by Sarah Mitchell. Savannah Whaley laid down a kill to extend the Braves lead to ten. The Warriors fought back as they went on a seven point run that included aces by Michaela Andress. The run was not enough as the Braves scored the next seven points to give them a 25-14 point victory in the final set of the match.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will take on the Francis Marion Patriots on October 26 at 2pm in Florence, SC. The Warriors will travel to Young Harris, GA on October 26 to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions. They will wrap up their road matches on November 1 as they travel to Franklin Springs, GA to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
