Milledgeville, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell in the final two matches in the Bobcat Classic on Saturday. They fell to the Lee Flames 3-0 in the morning before dropping their final match of the tournament against the Albany State Golden Rams 3-1.
In the loss to the Flames, Southern Wesleyan totaled 18 kills with Angel Jimenez leading the team with six. Behind her, Karson Haley had four and Mikaylah Hutton had three. Haley went on to lead the team with eight assists. Jimenez picked up nine of the 33 digs. Gracie Wilson led the team with four blocks.
Southern Wesleyan picked up 48 kills in the second match of the afternoon. Karson Haley led the team with nine kills. Behind her, Sarah Mitchell had eight kills and Gracie Wilson had seven. Haley led the team with 16 assists. Katie Fulton picked up 13 assists. Haley went on to pick up two of the three aces. Both Megan Gilliland and Haley had two blocks. Of the 55 digs, Kristina Pino had 15.
Match Vitals
Southern Wesleyan vs Lee
Set One Final: Lee 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
Set Two Final: Lee 25, Southern Wesleyan 9
Set Three Final: Lee 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
Southern Wesleyan vs Albany State
Set One Final: Albany State 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Two Final: Albany State 25, Southern Wesleyan 21
Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Albany State 18
Set Four Final: Albany State 25, Southern Wesleyan 18
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-3) Lee (4-0) Albany State (2-2)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan vs Lee
Set One
Lee took the first point of the match off a kill by Sophia Lippert, however kills by Karson Haley propelled the Warriors to a 3-1 point lead over the Flames. The Flames attacked the net again, but this time Gracie Wilson and Karson Haley got up to thwart their attack. Lee continued to challenge the Warriors as Naomi Hockless laid down back-to-back kills to put them right back within one point of Southern Wesleyan. However, an assisted block off the hands of Megan Gilliland and Gracie Wilson allowed the Warriors to regain their three point lead. Kills by Hockless, Grace Mazzocca and Brynna Sands allowed the Flames to tie the set up 8-8. The Flames pushed on with several kills by Julia Davis to put them ahead. Michaela Andress collected a pass from Karson Haley and drilled the ball down for a kill that allowed Southern Wesleyan to stay within two points of Lee. The Warriors fought back as a kill by Micheala Andress and an assisted block by Sarah Mitchell and Megan Gilliland allowed them to tie the game back up. However, Lee would not back down as they went on a run that allowed them to take the first set 25-15.
Set Two
The Flames continued the intensity in set two as Carmen Perez put down an ace, and Sophia Lippert and Sara Palumbo laid down kills to give them an early 4-0 point advantage. Kills by Mikaylah Hutton and Sarah Mitchell put the Warriors on the board. The Warriors continued to challenge as Kristina Pino flipped the ball over the net for a kill that tied the set up 6-6. Once again, Lee pushed ahead as an ace by Sara Palumbo put them ahead by five. Karson Haley set the ball up for Angel Jimenez for her to put down a kill, however the Flames countered with an ace by Berra Soyler. Kills by Julia Davis and Sophia Lippert allowed Lee to claim a 25-9 second set victory.
Set Three
Southern Wesleyan kicked off the third set with a kill by Angel Jimenez, but a kill by Sara Palumbo allowed Lee to tie the set up. The Flames pushed on with kills by Sophia Lippert and Naomi Hockless. Gracie Wilson put down a kill to put the Warriors back within two. However, kills by Grace Mazzocca, Sophia Lippert and Julia Davis allowed Lee to extend their lead to 11-7. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Angel Jimenez hit back-to-back kills. Madison Dahl served in an ace for the Flames. Despite late kills by Mikaylah Hutton and Karson Haley, and a block by Gracie Wilson, the Warriors dropped the final set to the Flames in a 25-19 final.
Southern Wesleyan vs Albany State
Set One
The Golden Rams came out of the gate quickly as blocks by Joy Robinson, Kaylin Teasley and Jarianis Perez put them on top 4-0. Southern Wesleyan got on the board with kills by Katie Fulton and Sarah Mitchell. The Warriors continued to challenge as Angel Jimenez and Karson Haley put down kills. An ace by Haley put the Warriors back within two. However, Albany State pushed on as Liannette Burgos put down an ace and then Sydney Melton killed the ball. They distanced themselves further from the Warriors with several kills by Perez. The Warriors challenged with kills by Gracie Wilson, Mikaylah Hutton and Megan Gilliland, but the Golden Rams took set one in a 25-20 final score.
Set Two
Southern Wesleyan attacked first in set two as Angel Jimenez and Gracie Wilson both put down kills. Albany State countered with a kill by Kaylin Teasley to tie the set up 3-3. The Warriors pushed ahead with kills by Jimenez, Sarah Mitchell and Megan Gilliland. Gilliland went on to put down a kill off a pass from Karson Haley to give the Warriors a 12-8 point lead in set two. The Golden Rams fought back as blocks by Joy Robinson and Kaylin Teasley allowed them to tie the set up. Albany State would not relent their attacks as Sydney Melton, Jarianis Perez and Joy Robinson all put down kills. The lead was short lived as Mikaylah Hutton laid down another kill to tie the set back up again. However, the Golden Rams pushed on to win the second set 25-21.
Set Three
Blocks by Karson Haley and Megan Gilliland put the Warriors on the board first in set three. However, back-to-back service aces by Jarianis Perez allowed Albany State to tie the set right back up. The Warriors regained the lead on a kill by Sarah Mitchell, but the Golden Rams countered right back as Joy Robinson killed the ball on the next play. Kills by Mitchell and Gilliland allowed the Warriors to tie the set up at 10 points apiece. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Gracie Wilson drilled the ball down for kills to put the Warriors on top by five. Karson Haley and Sarah Mitchell blocked another Golden Ram attack to allow the Warriors to maintain the lead. A kill by Mitchell allowed the Warriors to claim set three in a 25-18 final score.
Set Four
Albany State struck first in the final set as Jarianis Perez put down several kills to give them a 5-1 point lead. The Warriors countered with a kill by Karson Haley. The Golden Rams pushed ahead with kills by Maya Ogbogu. Perez put down aces to extend Albany State's lead to 14-9. The Warriors came to within four on a kill by Katie Fulton. The Golden Rams would not relent as Joy Robinson and Perez each put down kills. Trinity Gibson and Karson Haley each recorded kills for Southern Wesleyan. Faith Paxton served in an ace to put the Warriors behind the Golden Rams 23-18. However, Albany State went on to claim a 25-18 fourth set victory on a service ace by Talia Smith.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host their first match of the season on September 11 as they welcome the Columbia College Koalas to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 6pm. They will then return to the road as they travel to Emory, VA to take on Emory & Henry on September 13.
