Bristol, TN – Southern Wesleyan fell in Conference Carolinas action to the King Tornado in a 3-1 final score on Friday evening.
The Warriors totaled 38 kills with Megan Gilliland leading the team with nine. Behind Gilliland, Gracie Wilson had eight and Micheala Andress had seven. Amiyah Spann had 11 assists. Spann went on to lead the team with two aces.
Defensively, the Warriors blocked 14 attacks by the Tornado. Gracie Wilson had four blocks. Both Angel Jimenez and Karson Haley had three blocks. Of the 61 digs, Faith Paxton had 14. Angel Jimenez had 11 and Micheala Andress had 10.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: King 25, Southern Wesleyan 18
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, King 18
Set Three Final: King 25, Southern Wesleyan 14
Set Four Final: King 25, Southern Wesleyan 18
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-5 / CC 0-2) King (4-4 / CC 2-2)
How It Happened
Set One
The Tornado took the first point of the set, but back-to-back kills by Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to take the lead. King countered as Riley Nelson laid down a kill. However, attack errors by the Tornado allowed the Warriors to take a 5-3 point lead. Emma Olowa put down a kill to put the Tornado back within one of Southern Wesleyan. Katie Fulton set the ball up for Karson Haley who found the deep corner for a kill to allow the Warriors to maintain the lead. The Tornado took the lead, but a kill by Angel Jimenez allowed the Warriors to stay within one. Jimenez put down another kill off a pass from Faith Paxton. However, King pushed on as Riley Nelson and Bailey Fersner blocked another attack by Southern Wesleyan. Michaela Andress and Sarah Mitchell went up for an assisted block to prevent the Tornado from extending on their lead. King would not relent as kills by Capri Johnson, Bailey Fersner and Chloe Clayton allowed them to take a 25-18 point victory in set one.
Set Two
King jumped out in set two off a kill by Zephanie Snyder. The Tornado continued to press as Riley Nelson put down a kill and then Gabri Puertas served an ace. Michaela Andress blocked the attack by Emma Oluwa to put the Warriors back within two. King pushed on with kills by Chloe Clayton and Capri Johnson that allowed the Tornado to extend their lead to four. Katie Fulton passed the ball up to Michaela Andress who drilled the ball down for a kill. Karson Haley and Gracie Wilson each put down kills to allow the Warriors to come back to within two. Amiyah Spann set the ball up for Wilson who drilled down a powerful kill to put Southern Wesleyan down 10-8. The Warriors continued to push forward as Amiyah Spann served in an ace. Back-to-back kills by Sarah Mitchell allowed the Warriors to take the lead. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Sarah Mitchell, Karson Haley and Gracie Wilson blocked attacks by Gracia Love and Riley Nelson to extend the Warriors lead to 20-16. They would not back down as Megan Gilliland and Micheala Andress put down kills to force the set point. Gracie Wilson blocked an attack by Riley Nelson to give the Warriors a 25-18 point victory in the second set.
Set Three
The Tornado went on the attack early in the third set as Bailey Fersner put down a kill and then Riley Nelson and Izzy Krick blocked the Warriors next attack. However, a kill by Megan Gilliland and an ace by Angel Jimenez tied the set up. King pushed further ahead with an ace by Faith Morse. The Tornado would not back down as kills by Nelson and Emma Oluwa gave them a 9-2 point lead. Southern Wesleyan challenged with kills by Karson Haley and Amiyah Spann. Angel Jimenez and Gracie Wilson blocked the next attack by Chloe Clayton. The Warriors fought back with kills by Wilson and Gilliland each put down kills. However, King would not relent as they won the third set in a 25-14 final.
Set Four
Amiyah Spann kicked off the fourth set with an ace to give the Warriors the early lead, but a kill by Gracia Love allowed King to tie the set up. The Tornado took the lead on an ace by Gabri Puertas. Spann set the ball up for Gracie Wilson who drilled the ball down for a kill. Trinity Gibson and Angel Jimenez blocked the next few attacks by the Tornado to put the Warriors on top 7-6. The Tornado and the Warriors exchanged the lead several more times, but blocks by Izzy Kirck and Riley Nelson allowed the Tornado to gain the advantage. Gracie Wilson and Karson Haley each put down kills. However, the Tornado went on a run off kills by Capri Johnson and Gracia Love to extend their lead to six. Despite kills by Wilson, Megan Gilliland and Micheala Andress, the Warriors dropped the final set to the Tornado in a 25-18 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on October 6 as they host the Chowan Hawks at 2pm. They will then hit the road to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks on October 9 at 6pm. The Warriors will return home on October 11-12 as they host both the Young Harris Mountain Lions and the Belmont Abbey Crusaders.
