Franklin Springs, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Emmanuel Lions on Friday evening in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors picked up 19 kills against the Lions with both Mikaylah Hutton and Karson Haley having five kills. Michaela Andress had four kills. Of the 19 assists, Katie Fulton had nine. Fulton went on to have the lone ace of the match for the Warriors.
Southern Wesleyan had 35 digs during the match. Michaela Andress led the team with nine digs. Katie Fulton had six digs, and both Kristina Pino and Karson Haley had five. The Warriors blocked four attacks by the Lions with Trinity Gibson having two.
Game Vitals
Set One Final: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 11
Set Two Final: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 17
Set Three Final: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 9
Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-12 / CC 5-9) Emmanuel (17-9 / CC 14-1)
How It Happened
Set One
The Lions took the first point of the set and then extended their lead to 2-0 as Brianna Bigelow and Jocelyn Martin blocked an early attack by the Warriors. The Warriors got on the board off a dump kill by Amiyah Spann. Emmanuel would not relent as Bigelow and Martin each put down kills. Gracie Wilson and Megan Gilliland got down back-to-back kills to put the Warriors behind the Lions 7-3. Emmanuel pushed on with kills by Alaina Emminger and Cailin Pritchard. Karson Haley collected a set from Katie Fulton and put down a kill of her own. The Lions would not relent as Bigelow and Martin put down several more kills. Michaela Andress and Mikaylah Hutton laid down a couple kills, but the Lions went on to claim the first set of the match in a 25-11 point final.
Set Two
Emmanuel continued to turn on the pressure in the second set as they took the first points of the set. A service error by the Lions allowed the Warriors to get on the board. Mikaylah Hutton and Karson Haley each recorded kills to put the Warriors back within two points of the Lions. Cailin Pritchard went on the attack again, but Hutton and Trinity Gibson blocked her attack from paying off. However, an ace by Amore Marshall shortly afterwards allowed the Lions to extend their lead to 9-4. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge with kills by Michaela Andress and Hutton, but Emmanuel countered with a kill by Ellie Jackson to keep the Lions on top by four. Megan Gilliland and Trinity Gibson blocked an attack by Pritchard to put the Warriors within one point of the Lions. Southern Wesleyan went on the attack in hopes of cutting into the Lions' lead, but an assisted block by Brianna Bigelow and Ellie Jackson allowed Emmanuel to extend their lead to seven. Bigelow laid down another kill to give the Lions a 25-17 second set victory.
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan charged out of the gate in set three as Karson Haley laid down a kill. Katie Fulton served up an ace to extend the Warriors lead to 2-0. However, kills by Ellie Jackson and Emily Hanson allowed Emmanuel to tie the set up. The Lions took the lead, but Haley put down another kill to tie the set up once again. Emmanuel would not relent as they took the lead on kills by both Cailin Pritchard and Jocelyn Martin. The Lions continued to distance themselves from the Warriors as a kill by Pritchard kicked off a ten point scoring run for Emmanuel. Gracie Wilson sent the ball right inside the corner for a kill. However, the Lions pushed on as a kill by Emily Hanson allowed them to take the final set in a 25-9 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on November 2 as they host the Erskine Flying Fleet at noon. They will welcome the Barton Bulldogs and Shorter Hawks to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on November 8 and 9. The Bulldogs of Barton will come to Central on November 8 at 6pm. The Warriors will then take on the Hawks of Shorter on November 9th at 1 pm. Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on November 12 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers at 7pm.
