Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the conference opening match to the Converse Valkyries on Wednesday evening in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors totaled 29 kills against the Valkyries. Gracie Wilson led the team with nine kills. She was followed by Angel Jimenez and Sarah Mitchell with five kills. Katie Fulton picked up 13 assists with Amiyah Spann right on her heels with 10.
Southern Wesleyan had 47 digs in the match with both Amiyah Spann and Angel Jimenez leading the team with eight. Sarah Mitchell led the team with three blocks. Megan Gilliland had two blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 23
Set Two Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 17
Set Three Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 22
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-4 / CC 0-1) Converse (9-3 / CC 3-0)
How It Happened
Set One
The Valkyries went on the attack quickly in set one as Tori Barr and Ariel Bryant each put down kills to give them a 4-0 point lead. The Warriors fought back as Angel Jimenez and Gracie Wilson collected kills of their own. A kill by Sarah Mitchell allowed the Warriors to tie the set up 6-6. Converse would not relent as they laid down more kills off the hands of AC Garbade and Megan Carpenter. A kill by Noemia Chiacchio allowed the Valkyries to extend their lead back to four in the first set. Despite another kill by Mitchell, the Valkyries continued to push ahead with another kill by Chiacchio. The Warriors rallied as kills by Ellie Moore and Megan Gilliland put Southern Wesleyan back within two points of Converse. Gilliland and Sarah Mitchell blocked an attack by Ariel Bryant to put the Warriors within one. However, the Valkyries claimed the first set in a 25-23 final off a kill by Ariel Bryant.
Set Two
Converse went on an early 4-0 run in set two as Megan Carpenter put down a kill and Alysha Arroyo served up two aces. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Gracie Wilson collected another kill. A kill by Sarah Mitchell kept the Warriors within one point of the Valkyries. The Warriors continued to fight back as Angel Jimenez drilled the ball down for a kill to allow them to tie the set up 10-10. Converse pushed on as Tori Barr put down a kill and then Alayah Robertson served in an ace. Ellie Moore laid down a kill to keep the Warriors within two. However, kills by Ariel Bryant and AC Garbade allowed Converse to claim the second set 25-17.
Set Three
The Valkyries went on an early run once again in the final set of the match as Alayah Robertson picked up another kill and Ariel Bryant served in three aces. Megan Gilliland drilled down back-to-back kills. Southern Wesleyan continued to battle against Converse's attacks as Angel Jimenez picked up another kill and Alexxis Wader served up an ace. Sarah Mitchell put down the ball down for a kill to tie the set up 14-14. However, kills by Noemia Chiacchio and Tori Barr allowed the Valkyries to regain the lead. Southern Wesleyan challenged with a kill by Karson Haley, but kills by Chiacchio and Ella Ruckman allowed Converse to take the final set 25-22.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will continue Conference Carolinas action as they host the Barton Bulldogs and the Chowan Hawks in Historic Tysinger Gymnasium over the weekend. They will then hit the road to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet on October 1 at 6pm. The Warriors will remain on the road on October 4 as they take on the King Tornado in Bristol, TN.
