Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the North Greenville Trailblazers 3-0 in their final regular season match on Tuesday evening.
The Warriors had 29 kills in the match with Megan Gilliland leading the team with nine. Gilliland was closely followed by Michaela Andress with eight. Of the 27 assists, Katie Fulton picked up 17. Both Fulton and Andress recorded aces.
Southern Wesleyan had 61 digs. Michaela Andress led the team with 13. Kristina Pino, Faith Paxton and Amiyah Spann had eight digs. Gracie Wilson led the Warriors with four of the six blocks including two solo blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: North Greenville 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
Set Two Final: North Greenville 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
Set Three Final: North Greenville 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-14 / CC 7-11) North Greenville (17-13 / CC 14-4)
How It Happened
Set One
The Warriors went on the attack early as Gracie Wilson put down a kill. However, kills by Peyton Taylor and Samantha Ball put the Trailblazers on the board. Southern Wesleyan continued to pressure North Greenville as kills by Michaela Andress and Trinity Gibson allowed the Warriors to take a 6-4 point lead. Karson Haley laid down a powerful kill that caught the Trailblazers off guard to extend the Warriors lead to three points. However, North Greenville's Anna Fiddelke blocked an attack by Gracie Wilson to allow the Trailblazers to tie the set back up. The Warriors countered the attack by the Trailblazers with a couple of their own as kills by Angel Jimenez and Megan Gilliland gave Southern Wesleyan back the advantage. Fiddelke put down a kill that jump started a six point run for the Trailblazers. The Warriors fought back with another kill by Karson Haley, but North Greenville would not relent as they took the first set in a 25-19 final.
Set Two
North Greenville attacked quickly in set two as Nicole Santiago put down a kill. Kills by Anna Fiddelke and Samantha Ball allowed the Trailblazers to distance themselves further. Michaela Andress collected a set from Katie Fulton and laid down a kill to put the Warriors on the board. North Greenville persisted, but Megan Gilliland and Gracie Wilson got up to block the next attack by Ball. Another block by the Warriors, this time off the hands of Trinity Gibson and Karson Haley, allowed them to come to within three points of the Trailblazers. North Greenville would not relent as Elena Dyer and Peyton Taylor each laid down some kills. Katie Fulton served up an ace, and then Michaela Andress and Gracie Wilson put down some kills to put the Warriors back to within three points of the visitors. However, more kills by Dyer allowed North Greenville to take the second set 25-19.
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan took the first points of the second set off back-to-back kills by Michaela Andress and Megan Gilliland. Katie Fulton set the ball up for Gracie Wilson who drilled it past the North Greenville defense to extend their lead to 3-1. The lead was short lived as Linsey Burke served up an ace and then Samantha Ball put down a kill to tie the set up at five. The Trailblazers took the lead on an ace by Ball. Megan Gilliland snuck the ball past the defense for a kill. However, North Greenville pushed on as kills by Taya Knier and Samantha Ball gave them a six point advantage over Southern Wesleyan. The Warriors rallied with another kill by Gilliland and an ace by Michaela Andress. Gilliland blocked an attack by Samantha Ball, but the Trailblazers pressed on as another attack by Ball allowed them to take the final set in a 25-20 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will await the seeding for the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament.
