Rome, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell in an intense battle against the Shorter Hawks on Tuesday evening in a 3-1 final score.
The Warriors totaled 50 kills against the Hawks while posting a .209 hitting percentage. Both Ainsley Stovall and Kaylon Chapman had 12 kills in the match. Of the 43 assists, senior setter Katie Fulton picked up 21. Right behind her, Amiyah Spann had 17 assists. Southern Wesleyan served up six aces with Alexxis Wader having two.
Defensively, Southern Wesleyan collected 72 digs. Senior Libero Calie Covey led the team with 34. The Warriors were able to block seven attacks made by the Hawks. Sarah Mitchell and Briley Wolff each had two blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Shorter 26, Southern Wesleyan 24
Set Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Shorter 21
Set Three Final: Shorter 28, Southern Wesleyan 26
Set Four Final: Shorter 25, Southern Wesleyan 21
Records: Southern Wesleyan (13-12 / CC 11-9) Shorter (15-13 / CC 12-8)
How It Happened
Set One
The Warriors were the first on the board in the opening set as Kaylon Chapman got in her first kill of the match to give Southern Wesleyan the early lead. The Hawks countered as Tori Sparks got down the first kill of the match for Shorter. Audrey Brooks knocked the ball down to allow Shorter to tie the set up at three. Southern Wesleyan quickly responded as Ainsley Stovall and Chapman got down a couple kills to allow the Warriors to regain the lead. The Hawks fought back, but the Warriors continued to challenge as Briley Wolff knocked down her first kill of the game. Shorter distanced themselves from Southern Wesleyan, but Katie Fulton set the ball up to Sarah Mitchell who got the ball into the corner of the court for a kill to put the Warriors back within seven. Southern Wesleyan continued to fight back as Briley Wolff, Kaylon Chapman and Karson Haley got up to block several attacks by the Hawks to put the Warriors behind Shorter 21-20. Chapman drilled the ball down the line for a kill to keep the Warriors within striking distance. Megan Gilliland and Sarah Mitchell got up to block another attack by the Hawks to tie the first set up at twenty four. However, the Hawks fought back to take the first set in a 26-24 final.
Set Two
The Warriors and the Hawks carried the intensity of the opening set into the second set of the evening as they both battled for the lead. With the set tied up at three, an attack error by the Hawks put Southern Wesleyan on top 4-3. Briley Wolff blocked another attack by Shorter to allow the Warriors to extend on their lead. Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Ainsley Stovall drilled the ball down past the Hawks for another kill. The Hawks fought back as Helena Kelly served up an ace to put them within one. Caroline Sivills got a kill down to allow Shorter to take a 13-11 point lead. Sarah Mitchell blocked another attack by the Hawks to tie the set up once again. Southern Wesleyan regained the lead as Alexxis Wader served up an ace. Faith Paxton set the ball up to Karson Haley who drilled it down the line for a kill to allow the Warriors to take a 20-19 point lead. An ace by Kaylon Chapman put the Warriors within one point of taking the second set. Southern Wesleyan claimed the second set in a 25-21 final as Ainsley Stovall laid down a kill.
Set Three
An early attack error by the Hawks allowed the Warriors to claim the first point of the third set. Shorter countered as they got in a kill, but Megan Gilliland was able to block another attack by the Hawks to put the Warriors back on top. Amiyah Spann served up an ace. Shorter regained the lead, but a kill by Kaylon Chapman allowed the Warriors to stay within one point of the Hawks. However, an ace by Medina tied the set right back up at eleven. Megan Gilliland got in a kill to regain the Warriors' advantage. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Spann set the ball up to Briley Wolff who knocked it down past the Hawks. Caroline Sivills blocked an attack by Chapman to tie the set up at sixteen. Gilliland laid the ball down through the left side of the Hawks' defense to put the Warriors within five points of claiming the set. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as a block tied the set up at twenty-six. However, the Hawks took the third set in a 28-26 final.
Set Four
Southern Wesleyan took the first point of the fourth set on a service error by the Hawks. Megan Gilliland was able to get the ball down to allow the Warriors to regain the lead. Audrey Brooks got the ball right past the Warriors' defense to tie the set up once again. Shorter went on the attack, but Briley Wolff and Karson Haley were there to block the Hawks' attack. Kaylon Chapman got the ball right past the Hawks' defense to give the Warriors an 8-4 point lead. However, the Hawks battled back as a kill by Tori Sparks allowed Shorter to tie the set up. Shorter maintained the intensity, but Karson Haley was there to block the attack. A kill by Medina put the Hawks on top 17-15. Chapman drilled the ball into the hands of two Hawks players, but the ball went out of play to allow the Warriors to come back to within one point of Shorter. Megan Gilliland tapped the ball over the net for a kill. However, the Hawks claimed the final set in a 25-21 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wait for their seeding in the Conference Carolinas tournament.
