Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Barton Bulldogs for the first time since 2016 on Friday evening in a 3-1 final score.

The Warriors totaled 48 kills with both Karson Haley and Michaela Andress leading the team with 11 kills apiece.  Megan Gilliland had 10 kills.  Of the 44 assists, Amiyah Spann led the team with 19.  Right behind Spann, Katie Fulton had 17 assists.  Southern Wesleyan had five aces in the match with freshman Alexxis Wader recording two.  Andress, Fulton and Faith Paxton also had aces.

Southern Wesleyan recorded 83 digs during the match.  Libero Faith Paxton had 22.  Michaela Andress (19), Angel Jimenez (16) and Amiyah Spann (11) also picked up double figures in digs.  Gracie Wilson had three blocks and Trinity Gibson had two.

Match Vitals

Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Barton 16

Set Two Final: Barton 25, Southern Wesleyan 13

Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 26, Barton 24

Set Four Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Barton 22

Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-12 / CC 7-9) Barton (7-16 / CC 4-11)

How It Happened

Set One

An attack error by the Bulldogs allowed Southern Wesleyan to take the first point of the opening set.  However, Barton tied the set up on the next play as Lily Haaga drilled the ball down for a kill.  The Warriors countered as Megan Gilliland and Michaela Andress each collected kills.  Alexxis Wader followed with a service ace to put the Warriors on top 4-2.  Barton would not back down as an ace by Lilly Meyer allowed them to tie the first set up.  Kills by Gracie Wilson and Karson Haley allowed the Warriors to regain the lead.  Wilson drilled the ball down once again for a kill to put Southern Wesleyan ahead by four.  Katie Fulton dumped the ball over the net for a kill.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Michaela Andress put down several more kills.  A kill by Mikaylah Hutton allowed the Warriors to take the first set in a 25-16 final.

Set Two

Barton took the first point of the second set as a bad set by Katie Fulton put them on the board, but a kill by Megan Gilliland allowed Southern Wesleyan to tie the set right back up.  The Bulldogs regained the lead, but kills by Gracie Wilson and Gilliland allowed the Warriors to stay within one point of Barton.  Mackenzie Noble served in an ace, and then Ryan Jeremiah put down a kill to give Barton a five point advantage.  Kills by Karson Haley and Gilliland put Southern Wesleyan behind Barton 16-9.  The Bulldogs would not back down as a kill by Lily Haaga gave them a 25-13 second set victory.

Set Three

Angel Jimenez and Gracie Wilson blocked an attack by Henly Sleight to give the Warriors the first point of the third set.  However, kills by Madeline Hope and Lauryn Pitt allowed Barton to tie the set right back up.  The set went back and fourth as kills on both sides kept the set in a stalemate.  Michaela Andress drilled the ball down for a kill.  Andress and Paxton served up aces to extend the Warriors lead to 15-8.  Barton challenged back, but kills by Gracie Wilson and Megan Gilliland allowed the Warriors to maintain their three point advantage.  Mackenzie Noble served in an ace of her own to tie the set up.  Southern Wesleyan and Barton battled back and fourth over the final few points until a kill by Angel Jimenez and an out of rotation call against the Bulldogs allowed the Warriors to take the third set in a 26-24 final.

Set Four

A kill by Megan Gilliland allowed Southern Wesleyan to take the first point of the final set, but a kill by Lily Haaga and an ace by Henly Sleight allowed Barton to take the lead.  Alexxis Wader served up her second ace of the match to put the Warriors back on top.  The Bulldogs countered as Haaga drilled the ball down yet again for back-to-back kills to give Barton the lead.  However, Michaela Andress laid down a kill off a set by Amiyah Spann to put the Warriors back within two of the Bulldogs.  Angel Jimenez and Karson Haley put down kills, and then an attack error by Madeline Hope allowed Southern Wesleyan to tie the set up 9-9.  The Warriors would not relent as Megan Gilliland and Michaela Andress each put down kills.  The lead was short lived as a kill by Lily Haaga allowed the Bulldogs to regain the advantage.  Katie Fulton dumped the ball over the net to put Southern Wesleyan back within one.  Karson Haley put down back-to-back kills to allowed the Warriors to regain the advantage.  Barton pressed on as a kill by Ryan Jeremiah and an ace by Lilly Meyer put them within four points.  However, Gracie Wilson blocked the attack by Henly Sleight to force the match point.  Katie Fulton set the ball up for Megan Gilliland who drilled the ball to the floor to give the Warriors a 25-22 fourth set victory.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on November 9 as they host the Shorter Hawks at 1pm.  They will then wrap up the regular season on November 12 as they welcome  the North Greenville Trailblazers to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium for a 7pm match.