Pembroke, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell in a tough match against the UNC Pembroke Braves on Friday evening in a 3-0 final score.
The Warriors picked up 28 kills with freshman Kaylon Chapman leading the team with 10. She was followed by Briley Wolff with seven and Micheala Andress with five. Katie Fulton had 22 of the 26 assists. Of the four aces in the match, Andress had three and Chapman had one.
Defensively, the Warriors were able to block 11 attacks on the net. Briley Wolff picked up four blocks on her own. Calie Covey, Micheala Andress and Sarah Mitchell all had two blocks to their names by the end of the evening. Southern Wesleyan totaled 59 digs in the match. Senior Katie Fulton had 21 of the digs while both Covey and Andress had 11.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 19
Set Two Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Three Final: UNC Pembroke 25, Southern Wesleyan 21
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-4 / CC 0-2) UNC Pembroke (4-4 / CC 1-0)
How It Happened
Set One
The Braves took the first point of the opening set off a kill by Alexandria Mills. However, an ace and attack error by the Braves allowed the Warriors to take a 3-1 point lead. Kaitlyn Koel got in a kill of her own and then Abby Peduzzi and McKenna Hayes blocked an attack by Ellie Moore. Katie Fulton set the ball up to Briley Wolff who get in a kill to put the Warriors back within two points of Pembroke. The Braves pushed ahead, but the Warriors continued to put up a fight with kills by Kaylon Chapman, Michaela Andress and Fulton. Chapman got in several more kills to keep Southern Wesleyan within three. However, the Braves would not relent as an ace by Emily Collings gave them a 25-19 point victory in the first set.
Set Two
An opening service error by Savannah Whaley allowed the Warriors to take the first point. Ainsley Stovall got in a kill off a set by Katie Fulton. However, the Braves took the lead off an ace by Isabella Dillman and a kill by Kaitlyn Koel. A kill by Kaylon Chapman allowed the Warriors to stay within one point of the Braves. UNC Pembroke extended their lead as McKenna Hayes and Abby Peduzzi blocked several attacks by the Warriors. Briley Wolff got the ball past the Braves to bring the Warriors to within three points of UNC Pembroke. The Warriors challenged as Briley Wolff and Michaela Andress each got in kills. Andress went on to serve up an ace to put the Warriors within five points of the Braves. Fulton set the ball up for Andress who drilled the ball down to the floor to cut UNC Pembroke's lead down to three. Despite a late kill by Sarah Mitchell, the Braves pushed ahead to claim the second set in a 25-20 final.
Set Three
Calie Covey and Sarah Mitchell blocked an early attack by Abby Peduzzi to allow the Warriors to take the first point of the set. Kaylon Chapman followed with a kill that allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to 2-0. The Braves fought back as Addie Decker got in a kill of her own. However, a kill by Mitchell allowed the Warriors to regain the lead. UNC Pembroke took the lead off a kill by Savannah Whaley, but the Warriors fought back as Briley Wolff blocked another attack by Decker to tie the set up. The Braves regained the lead, but Southern Wesleyan battled back as Kaylon Chapman served up an ace. UNC Pembroke would not back down as several kills by Abby Peduzzi allowed them to extend their lead to six points. Southern Wesleyan challenged on as Micheala Andress put down a kill and then Andress and Wolff got up to block an attack by Decker. The Warriors to pressure the Braves defense as Calie Covey got in a kill and then a couple of attack errors by the Braves allowed the Warriors to come to 19-21 behind UNC Pembroke. Despite a late kill by Kaylon Chapman, the Braves went on to win the final set in a 25-21 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on September 20 as they travel over to Florence, SC to take on the Francis Marion Patriots at 2pm. They will then return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on September 24 as they host the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 6pm. The Warriors will hit the road again for a weekend series on October 3 and 4 where they will take on the North Greenville Trailblazers and the Belmont Abbey Crusaders.
