Young Harris, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell in a hard fought battle against the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Wednesday afternoon in a 3-2 final score.

The Warriors totaled 67 kills during the match.  Angel Jimenez led the team with 15 kills.  Joining her in double digits are Gracie Wilson (12), Michaela Andress (12) and Megan Gilliland (11).  Of the 63 assists, Katie Fulton picked up 30.  Faith Paxton served up two aces.

Southern Wesleyan blocked nine attacks by the Mountain Lions.  Sarah Mitchell led the team with five blocks while Gracie Wilson had three.  The Warriors recorded 92 digs.  Michaela Andress picked up 24 digs with Faith Paxton right on her heels with 21.

Match Vitals

Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 23

Set Two Final: Young Harris 25, Southern Wesleyan 21

Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 20

Set Four Final: Young Harris 25, Southern Wesleyan 20

Set Five Final: Young Harris 17, Southern Wesleyan 15

Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-11 / CC 5-8) Young Harris (5-12 / CC 5-8)

How It Happened

Set One

The Mountain Lions took the opening point of the first set off a service error, but a kill by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to tie the set right back up.  Katie Fulton set the ball up for Wilson who put down another kill to extend the Warriors lead to 4-1.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Megan Gilliland and Ellie Moore each went up for kills.  Lily Hidalgo put the ball over for a kill to put the Mountain Lions back within three points.  However, back-to-back kills by Gilliland and Moore allowed the Warriors to regain their five point lead.  Young Harris continued to challenge with kills by Abby Schirm.  Karson Haley put down back-to-back kills.  Sophie Bearden put up a set for Lily Hidalgo and she put down another kill to put the Mountain Lions within one, but kills by Gracie Wilson and Ellie Moore extended Southern Wesleyan's lead back to three.  Young Harris went on the attack again, but Wilson was there to block the ball from landing.  The Mountain Lions matched each of the Warriors' attacks, but the Warriors persevered as Gracie Wilson blocked the final attack to give Southern Wesleyan a 25-23 point victory.

Set Two

Southern Wesleyan took the first point of the second set, but a kill by Abby Schirm allowed Young Harris to tie the set up.  The Mountain Lions pushed on with an ace by Rylie Springer and then a kill by Lily Hidalgo.  The Warriors countered as kills by Megan Gilliland put Southern Wesleyan within one point of Young Harris.  Shelby Mullins and Lily Hidalgo each put down kills.  Amiyah Spann set the ball up for Michaela Andress who put down a kill to keep the Warriors within three points of the Mountain Lions.  However, Young Harris would not relent as Schirm laid down several more kills.  Karson Haley put down a kill of her own, but kills by Shelby Mullins and Kathryn Urbanek extend Young Harris' lead to 21-16.  Despite a couple more kills by Megan Gilliland, Young Harris claimed the second set 25-21.

Set Three

Southern Wesleyan changed out of the gate in the third set as attack errors by Young Harris and kills by Angel Jimenez gave them an early 4-0 point advantage.  Kathryn Urbanek put down a kill of her own to put the Mountain Lions on the board, but another kill by Jimenez allowed the Warriors to regain their six point lead.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Megan Gilliland and Michaela Andress each put down kills.  Abby Schirm went on the attack, but Sarah Mitchell blocked her attack to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 12-4.  Young Harris rallied as Shelby Mullins and Abby Schirm each put down kills.  Gracie Wilson and Angel Jimenez laid down kills.  The Mountain Lions fought back as Nicole Klucharich put down several more kills, but the Warriors would not relent as Karson Haley, Angel Jimenez and Gracie Wilson each put down kills of their own.  Gracie Wilson drilled the ball down for a kill to give the Warriors a 25-20 point victory in the third set.

Set Four

Southern Wesleyan continued the intensity into the fourth set as Faith Paxton set the ball up for Megan Gilliland.  Gilliland put the ball past the Mountain Lions for a kill to give the Warriors the lead.  The Mountain Lions got on the board off a kill by Abby Schirm and then tied the set up off an ace by Rylie Springer.  Michaela Andress found a spot past the defense to score to allow the Warriors to regain the lead.  Andress dumped the ball over to extend the Warriors lead to 6-4.  Young Harris came back to within one on a kill by Nicole Klucharich, but a kill by Karson Haley allowed the Warriors to regain their two point lead.  Young Harris tied the set up off a kill by Abby Schirm.  The Mountain Lions would not back down as Kathryn Urbanek put down a kill to give Young Harris their first advantage of the set.  Michaela Andress went on the attack and got the ball around the defense for a kill.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as Gracie Wilson put down a kill of her own.  Lily Hidalgo and Shelby Mullins put down back-to-back kills to extend the Mountain Lions lead to 17-14.  However, Angel Jimenez laid down a kill on the next point to keep the Warriors within two of the Mountain Lions.  The Warriors continued to battle as Gracie Wilson laid down another kill, but the Mountain Lions put down a kill by Shelby Mullins to take a 25-20 point victory in the fourth set.

Set Five

The Mountain Lions struck quickly as Kathryn Urbanek put down a kill off a pass by Lyza Thigpen.  The Warriors fought back with a kill by Gracie Wilson.  Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Katie Fulton set the ball up for Megan Gilliland who put down a kill to allow the Warriors to tie the set up 3-3.  Faith Paxton served in an ace to give Southern Wesleyan their first advantage of the set.  The Warriors pushed on as Karson Haley and Angel Jimenez put down back-to-back kills.  Kathryn Urbanek put down a kill, but a kill by Jimenez allowed the Warriors to tie the set right back up 9-9.  Young Harris pushed on to take a 13-10 point lead, but a kill by Megan Gilliland and an ace by Faith Paxton allowed the Warriors to come back to within one point of the Mountain Lions.  Young Harris pushed on as kills by Abby Schirm and Kathryn Urbanek allowed them to take a 17-15 point victory.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Franklin Springs, GA on November 1 where they will take on the Emmanuel Lions at 7pm.  They will then return home on November 2 to host the Erskine Flying Fleet in Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at noon.  The Warriors will host the Barton Bulldogs on November 8 at 6pm and then the Shorter Hawks on November 9 at 1pm.