Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Friday evening in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors totaled 39 kills with Briley Wolff leading the team with eight. Kaylon Chapman, Karson Haley and Megan Gilliland each had seven kills. Katie Fulton totaled 17 assists with fellow setter Amiyah Spann following with 11. The Warriors served up eight aces during the match. Calie Covey had four aces while four Warriors had one ace each.
Defensively, Southern Wesleyan picked up 63 digs in the match. Warriors' libero Calie Covey had 20 digs. Kaylon Chapman was the other Warrior to have double digits in digs as she had 11. The Warriors had five blocks in the match with Megan Gilliland leading the team with three. Briley Wolff had two blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 19
Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 18
Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 25, Belmont Abbey 22
Records: Southern Wesleyan (11-9 / CC 9-7) Belmont Abbey (10-14 / CC 6-11)
How It Happened
Set One
Errors by the Warriors allowed the Crusaders to gain the first three points of the match. Katie Fulton set the ball up to Kaylon Chapman who drilled it past Belmont Abbey to put the Warriors on the board. Kills by Sarah Mitchell, Ainsley Stovall and Megan Gilliland allowed the Warriors to go on a five point run to give the Warriors a 6-3 point lead. Belmont Abbey went on the attack, but Briley Wolff and Gilliland blocked their attacks. The Crusaders fought back as an ace by Kyleigh Coghlan put them within one. Wolff got in an ace and then Kaylon Chapman laid down a couple of kills. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as a kill by Karson Haley allowed the Warriors to take the first set in a 25-19 final score.
Set Two
A kill by Lola Sultenfuss put the Crusaders on top first in the second set. Kaylon Chapman served up an ace to allow the Warriors to take the lead. Belmont Abbey attempted to cut into Southern Wesleyan's lead, but Briley Wolff was able to block her attack. An ace by Renata Bolado allowed the Crusaders to stay within two points of Southern Wesleyan. Chapman and Ainsley Stovall each got down kills, and then Calie Covey served up an ace. Wolff got in a couple of kills to give the Warriors a 17-13 point lead. The Warriors pressed on with kills by Karson Haley. Katie Brookins and Jordan Medina each got in some kills. However, Megan Gilliland drilled the ball down past the Crusaders defense to allow the Warriors to take the second set in a 25-18 final.
Set Three
Belmont Abbey went on the offensive early in the third set of the match as Renata Bolado and Chloe Lowder each got in kills. A kill by Kaylon Chapman kept the Warriors within one. However, the Crusaders went on a four point run to allow them to take a 6-1 point lead. Southern Wesleyan fought back as Katie Fulton set the ball up to Megan Gilliland. Gilliland got the ball past the Crusaders to put the Warriors within two points of Belmont Abbey. The Crusaders continued their attacks as Mallory Swain served up an ace. The Warriors answered as Gilliland got in several more kills. Ainsley Stovall got the ball past the Crusaders to help the Warriors go on a six point run to put them on top by one. The Warriors continued to press ahead as Karson Haley drilled the ball past the Crusaders to win the final set in a 25-22 final.
What's Next
The Warriors will host the King Tornado on November 1 at 2pm. They will then travel to Franklin Springs, GA on November 5 as they take on the Emmanuel Lions at 7pm. The Warriors will travel to Mars Hill, NC to take on the Lions of Mars Hill on November 7.
