Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Erskine Flying Fleet in a 3-1 final score on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors totaled 45 kills in the match with Gracie Wilson leading the team with 15. Micheala Andress recorded nine kills, and both Mikaylah Hutton and Karson Haley each had seven. Of the 42 assists, Katie Fulton had 20 with Amiyah Spann right behind her with 18. The Warriors had six aces in the victory with Faith Paxton leading the team with three and Andress posting two.
Southern Wesleyan recorded 64 digs with two Warriors picking up double digits in digs. Michaela Andress led the team with 17 while Faith Paxton followed with 16. Southern Wesleyan blocked 14 attacks. Gracie Wilson recorded six blocks and Andress had five.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Erskine 21
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Erskine 23
Set Three Final: Erskine 25, Southern Wesleyan 22
Set Four Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Erskine 22
Records: Southern Wesleyan (9-12 / CC 6-9) Erskine (6-18 / CC 2-12)
How It Happened
Set One
A kill by Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to get on the board first in set one. The Flying Fleet quickly answered with a kill by Ryleigh Taylor, but kills by Andress and Mikaylah Hutton allowed the Warriors to maintain the advantage. Amiyah Spann served up the first ace of the match for the Warriors to extend their lead to 6-4. They Flying Fleet answered as a kill by Taylor allowed them to take the lead. Taylor put down another kill to extend Erskine's lead to three. The lead was short lived as Gracie Wilson and Megan Gilliland blocked another attack by Taylor to tie the set up at eleven. Katie Fulton set the ball up for Gracie Wilson who drilled it past the Flying Fleet defense to give the Warriors a 15-13 point lead. Erskine fought back, but Southern Wesleyan regained the lead on back-to-back kills by Karson Haley. Wilson and Andress blocked an attack by Alexis Waddy to give Southern Wesleyan a 25-21 first set victory.
Set Two
Erskine attacked first in the second set as Ali Angell put down a kill and then Ailena Mykins served in an ace. However, back-to-back aces by Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to take a 3-2 point lead. The Flying Fleet countered each of the Warriors attacks, but Southern Wesleyan pushed ahead on aces by Faith Paxton. Erskine continued to battle, but Karson Haley drilled the ball down to the ground to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to three. Haley, Gracie Wilson and Katie Fulton each put down kills to put the Warriors ahead 19-13. Brianna Beyerle and Ryleigh Taylor blocked an attack by Haley to put Erskine back within two. The Warriors would not relent as Haley and Megan Gilliland both laid down kills to give the Warriors a 25-23 point victory in the second set.
Set Three
A kill by Ella Dietrich allowed Erskine to strike first in set three. However, kills by Gracie Wilson and Megan Gilliland tied the set up. The Flying Fleet regained the lead on an ace by Mahayla Law. They pushed ahead as Brianna Beyerle and Maggie Norris put down kills. Erskine distanced themselves further on more kills by Ali Angell. Karson Haley blocked an attack by Ryleigh Taylor to keep the Warriors within three. Despite a late kill by Gracie Wilson, Erskine claimed the third set in a 25-22 final score.
Set Four
Erskine struck first once again in the fourth set as Ella Dietrich put down another kill. However, kills by Gracie Wilson and Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to take the lead. Dietrich went on the attack again to put the Flying Fleet back within one. However, the Warriors regained the led on a kill by Mikaylah Hutton. Erskine would not go down quietly as they went on a four point run that was jump started off a kill by Ryleigh Taylor to put them ahead 12-9. The Warriors battled back as kills by Gracie Wilson, Trinity Gibson and Karson Haley allowed them to tie and then regain the lead. Amiyah Spann set the ball up for Wilson who drilled it down to the ground for a kill. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Michaela Andress and Wilson put down more kills to give the Warriors a 25-22 point victory in the final set.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Barton Bulldogs on November 8 at 6pm. They will then host the Shorter Hawks at 1pm on November 9. The Warriors will wrap up the regular season on November 12 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers. Senior day festivities will take place prior to the game that day.
