Franklin Springs, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell on the road to the Emmanuel Lions on Wednesday evening in a 3-1 final score.
The Warriors totaled 47 kills during the match with Kaylon Chapman leading the team with 17. Karson Haley had nine kills and Megan Gilliland had seven. Of the 45 assists, junior setter Amiyah Spann led the team with 22. Katie Fulton had 17 assists. Both Calie Covey and Kaylon Chapman had service aces.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 76 digs during the match with three players having double digits. Libero Calie Covey had 18 digs. Right behind her, Amiyah Spann had 15 and Micheala Andress had 11. The Warriors blocked five attacks by the Lions with Briley Wolff being apart of two on her own.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Emmanuel 21
Set Two Final: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
Set Three Final: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 9
Set Four Final: Emmaneul 25, Southern Wesleyan 16
Records: Southern Wesleyan (12-10 / CC 10-8) Emmanuel (16-8 / CC 13-4)
How It Happens
Set One
Emmanuel opened up the first set with a point off a bad set by the Warriors, but Briley Wolff and Karson Haley were able to block the next attack by Ellie Jackson to get Southern Wesleyan on the board. The Warriors were able to counter each of the Lions next attacks as Kaylon Chapman and Karson Haley each got in kills. Emmanuel and Southern Wesleyan battled back and fourth, exchanging the lead on several occasions over the next few points. Back-to-back kills by Kaylon Chapman allowed the Warriors to take a two point lead. However, the Lions answered with kills by Faith Kelly. Katie Fulton set the ball up to Michaela Andress who drilled it down past the Lions to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to four. Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Karson Haley, Megan Gilliland and Kaylon Chapman each got kills past the Lions. Chapman served up an ace on the final point to allow the Warriors to take the first set in a 25-20 final.
Set Two
Once again, the Lions were first on the board in the second set as Ellie Jackson got in a kill. However, kills by Karson Haley and Kaylon Chapman allowed Southern Wesleyan to tie the set up at two points apiece. Chapman and Megan Gilliland got the ball past the Lions, but Emmanuel took the lead right back as Caitlin Pritchard drilled the ball down for a kill. Emmanuel pushed ahead as Faith Kelly was able to get the ball down for a kill, but the Warriors answered right back as Calie Covey served up an ace to tie the set back up at fifteen. The Lions regained the advantage on the next play, but the Warriors continued to challenge their defense as Ainsley Stovall got the ball down for a kill of her own. Emmanuel went on to take the second set in a 25-19 final.
Set Three
Marusa Pesut got in an early kill to give the Lions the advantage in the third set. Southern Wesleyan answered as Kaylon Chapman got the ball down for a kill. However, the Lions pressed on with kills by Isabella Reyes. Micheala Andress was able to get down back-to-back kills, but the Lions would not relent as they went on a run to take a 13-3 point lead over the Warriors. Caitlin Pritchard looked to go on the attack again, but Briley Wolff and Andress blocked her attack on the net. Emmanuel would not relent as they took the third set in a 25-9 final.
Set Four
Emmanuel struck first with back-to-back kills by Ellie Jackson in the final set of the match. Karson Haley put down a kill off a pass from Amiyah Spann. A kill by Kaylon Chapman put Southern Wesleyan right back within one point of Emmanuel. However, the Lions pressed on with kills by Marusa Pesut and Caitlin Pritchard. Southern Wesleyan challenged as Kaylon Chapman and Briley Wolff each got down some kills. The Warriors' attacks were not enough, though, as Brianna Bigelow and Pesut blocked an attack by Chapman to allow the Lions to win the set in a 25-16 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Mars Hill, NC to take on the Mars Hill Lions on November 7. The Warriors will host their final regular season match on November 8 as they welcome the Erskine Flying Fleet to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 2pm. They will then wrap up the regular season on the road on November 11 as they travel to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks at 6pm.
