Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Barton Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in a 3-2 final score.
The Warriors totaled 45 kills in the loss to the Bulldogs. Kaylon Chapman led the team with 12 kills. Right behind her, Karson Haley had 11 kills and Briley Wolff had 10. Setters Amiyah Spann and Katie Fulton each had double digits in assists. Spann led the team with 15 and Fulton followed with 13. Spann picked up three aces in the match.
Defensively, the Warriors had 59 digs during the match with libero Calie Covey having 21 on her own. Katie Fulton also had double digits in digs with 11. The Warriors blocked 10 attacks by the Bulldogs. Karson Haley led the team with three blocks. Megan Gilliland, Briley Wolff and Kaylon Chapman each had two blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Barton 17
Set Two Final: Barton 25, Southern Wesleyan 21
Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Barton 20
Set Four Final: Barton 25, Southern Wesleyan 15
Set Five Final: Southern Wesleyan 15, Barton 12
Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-9 / CC 8-7) Barton (6-16 / CC 3-12)
How It Happened
Set One
The Warriors charged out of the gate in the opening set as Ainsley Stovall laid down a kill off a set by Calie Covey. The Bulldogs answered with a kill by Lexi Wasil to tie the set up at three. However, back-to-back kills by Karson Haley allowed the Warriors to regain the advantage. Katie Fulton set the ball up to Sarah Mitchell who drilled it down past the Bulldogs for a kill. Barton continued to challenge as Bailey McIntyre and Paige Bagwell got in a couple of kills. Haley got down a couple more kills, but the Bulldogs answered with kills by McIntyre and Wasil. However, the Warriors pressed on as Haley blocked another attack by the Bulldogs to allow the Warriors to take set one in a 25-17 final.
Set Two
The Bulldogs struck first in the second set as Bailey McIntyre, Lexi Wasil and Mattie Wells each got in kills. Karson Haley laid down a kill to keep the Warriors within two. Barton continued their attacks as Wells got down a couple more kills before Kaylon Chapman got down a kill of her own. Paige Bagwell blocked another attack by the Warriors to allow the Bulldogs to take an 11-5 point lead. A kill by Briley Wolff allowed the Warriors to come back to within three. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as Kaylon Chapman got in a kill to tie the set up. However, Barton went on to claim the second set in a 25-21 final.
Set Three
Errors by the Bulldogs allowed the Warriors to claim the first two points of the third set. However, kills by Bailey McIntyre and Mattie Wells allowed Barton to tie the set up. Madeline Hope got in a kill to give the Bulldogs a two point lead, but a kill by Kaylon Chapman put the Warriors back within one. Amiyah Spann served up back-to-back aces. Barton regained the lead on a kill by Bailey McIntrye. Wasil got in another kill to extend the Bulldogs lead to 15-13. The Warriors were not done as Megan Gilliland blocked another attack by McIntyre and then Briley Wolff laid down a kill. Southern Wesleyan went on to claim the third set in a 25-20 final score.
Set Four
Briley Wolff opened up the fourth set with a kill off a pass from Amiyah Spann. Wolff went on the attack again, but Lexi Wasil got up to block it from landing. The Bulldogs went on a seven point run that was kicked off by a kill by Mattie Wells. Barton would not relent as Wasil and Madeline Hope each got in some kills. Sarah Mitchell got in a kill off a set by Spann. Wasil laid down several more kills to allow the Bulldogs to take the fourth set in a 25-15 final.
Set Five
Barton got on the board first on an error by the Warriors. However, Megan Gilliland followed up with a kill to tie the set up. Kaylon Chapman got down a kill and then blocked another attack by the Bulldogs. However, the Bulldogs regained the lead as Lexi Wasil got down a kill and then Mattie Wells served up an ace. Katie Fulton got in a kill to tie the set back up. However, Barton pressed on as kills by Paige Bagwell allowed them to win the final set in a 15-12 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on October 31 as they host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders at 6pm. They will then host the King Tornado on November 1 at 2pm. The Warriors will travel to Franklin Springs, GA on November 5 at 7pm.
