Franklin Springs, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell in a hard fought battle against the Emmanuel Lions on Friday evening in a 3-1 final.
The Warriors totaled 45 kills in the loss to the Lions. Kaylon Chapman led the team with 15 kills. Megan Gilliland was the other Warrior in double digits in kills as she picked up 11. Of the 43 assists, Amiyah Spann had 19 and Lily Clarkson had 18. Briley Wolff, Chapman and Clarkson each had two service aces.
Faith Paxton led the team with 40 digs. The other two Warriors in double digits in digs was Kaylon Chapman with 14 and Alexxis Wader with 10. Southern Wesleyan totaled eight blocks in the match with Sarah Mitchell leading the team with four. Elise Fulgham and Briley Wolff each had three blocks.
Match Vitals
Set One: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 11
Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 25, Emmanuel 23
Set Three: Emmanuel 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Four: Emmanuel 27, Southern Wesleyan 25
Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-12 / CC 8-10) Emmanuel (23-6 / CC 17-2)
How It Happened
Set One
Emmanuel went on the early offensive as Ellie Jackson and Natalie Wilson each got the ball in for kills. A kill by Kaylon Chapman allowed the Warriors to take the lead. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Chapman got the ball in for another kill. However, a kill by Cailin Pritchard allowed the Lions to tie the set up. Emmanuel charged ahead as Jada Porter and Pritchard got the ball in for a couple more kills. The Lions went on to claim the first set in a 25-11 final.
Set Two
The Lions attacked early in the second set as Brianna Bigelow got the ball in for a kill. They extended their lead to 4-0 with a kill by Ellie Jackson. A kill off the hands of Kaylon Chapman put the Warriors on the board. Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at Emmanuel's lead as Briley Wolff got the ball down for a kill. Emmanuel pressed on with back-to-back kills by Jada Porter. The Warriors were not done as Alexxis Wader served the ball in for an ace. Aces by Lily Clarkson put Southern Wesleyan within three of Emmanuel. The Warriors would not be threatened by the Lions as Chapman, Ainsley Stovall and Megan Gilliland each laid down kills. Stovall collected the ball from Amiyah Spann and got the ball down for a kill to tie the set up at 21. Emmanuel answered with a kill by Ellie Jackson, but Southern Wesleyan pressed on as a kill by Kaylon Chapman allowed the Warriors to claim the second set in a 25-23 final.
Set Three
Elise Fulgham and Sarah Mitchell blocked an early attack on the net by Brianna Bigelow. However, a kill by Ellie Jackson allowed the Lions to tie the set up. The Lions and Warriors continued to battle back and fourth as Briley Wolff and Natalie Wilson got kills in for each of their respective teams. Southern Wesleyan pushed ahead as Briley Wolff served up back-to-back aces to give the Warriors a three point lead. The Lions quickly answered though as Bigelow tied the set up with a kill. A kill by Jada Porter put the Lions back on top, but it was short lived as Wolff and Kaylon Chapman blocked the next attack by Wilson. Emmanuel took the lead with a kill by Cailin Pritchard. Despite a late kill by Mitchell, the Lions claimed set three in a 25-20 final.
Set Four
Southern Wesleyan was first on the board in the fourth set after a service error by Marusa Pesut. Brianna Bigelow blocked Briley Wolff's next attack on the net. Ellie Jackson served up an ace to put the Lions on top. Back-to-back kills by Megan Gilliland put the Warriors within two. Jada Porter looked for a kill, but Briley Wolff and Gilliland blocked her attack on the net. The Lions pressed on with more kills by Jackson and Cailin Pritchard. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Sarah Mitchell and Kaylon Chapman each laid down kills. The Warriors took the lead on another kill by Gilliland. Southern Wesleyan and Emmanuel continued to battle back-and-forth over the last several points. The Lions went on to win the set in a 27-25 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return home on October 31 as they host the Young Harris Mountain Lions at 2pm. Prior to the game, the Warriors will celebrate their five seniors. They will then host the Shorter Hawks on November 3.
