Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Converse Valkyries in a 3-1 final score on Friday evening.
The Warriors had 50 kills in the loss to the Valkyries. Ainsley Stovall led the team with 16 while Briley Wolff followed with 12. Of the 43 assists, Lily Clarkson had 22. Behind Clarkson, Amiyah Spann had 16. The Warriors served up six aces in the game.
Defensively, the Warriors totaled 57 digs in the match. Michaela Andress led the team with 14 digs. Behind her, Lily Clarkson had 11 digs. Briley Wolff and Kylie Ramey each blocked three attacks by the Valkyries.
Match Vitals
Set One Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 20
Set Two Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 18
Set Three Final: Southern Wesleyan 25, Converse 22
Set Four Final: Converse 25, Southern Wesleyan 18
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-4 / CC 3-2) Converse (5-6 / CC 4-0)
How It Happened
Set One
Converse struck first as they took a 2-0 lead on an ace by Alysha Arroyo. The Warriors answered as Ainsley Stovall got the ball down for a kill. Southern Wesleyan continued to fight as Kaylon Chapman and Briley Wolff each got in kills. Converse would not relent as aces by Ella Ruckman gave them a two point lead. Lily Clarkson set the ball up to Kylie Ramey who got it past the Valkyries defense. Converse extended their lead to 18-11 as Alayah Robertson got the ball past the Warriors. Wolff and Chapman got up to block another attack by Ruckman to keep the Warriors within four. A kill by Elise Fulgham jump started a four point run for the Warriors that put them behind the Valkyries 19-18. Converse went on to claim the first set in a 25-20 final score off another ace by Arroyo.
Set Two
Ariana Bryant got the ball down for an early kill that gave Converse the first point of the second set. However, the Warriors took the lead as Briley Wolff and Elise Fulgham blocked an attack by Ella Ruckman. Ainsley Stovall got the ball past the Valkyries several times to extend the Warriors lead to two. The Valkyries answered right back as Bryant tied the second set up at seven with another kill. Megan Gilliland and Kylie Ramey blocked an attack by the Valkyries. Converse continued to put up a fight as Bryant got the ball past the Warriors several more times. The Valkyries went on to take set two in a 25-18 final.
Set Three
Converse took the first two points of the third set, but a kill by Briley Wolff and then an ace by Michaela Andress allowed the Warriors to tie the set up at two. The Valkyries regained the lead, but Ainsley Stovall drilled the ball down for a kill that kept the set tied. Southern Wesleyan and Converse battled back and forth over the next several points before a kill off the hands of Stovall allowed the Warriors to take the lead. Ella Ruckman looked to get a kill, but Stovall and Kylie Ramey were there to block her attack at the net. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Megan Gilliland, Andress and Briley Wolff each got the ball down for kills. The Warriors went on to claim set three in a 25-22 final.
Set Four
Ellie Moore got the ball down for an early kill to give the Warriors the first point of the final set. Southern Wesleyan extended their lead to 4-1 as Michaela Andress, Ainsley Stovall and Briley Wolff got down back-to-back-to-back kills. However, Converse would not be stopped as they blocked the next attacks by the Warriors. Amiyah Spann set the ball up to Stovall who got it down for another kill. Alayah Robertson looked to extend on Converse's lead, but Andress and Sarah Mitchell blocked her attack. The Valkyries would not relent as Ariel Bryant and Bree Lyons each got down kills. A final kill by Alayah Robertson allowed Converse to take the final set in a 25-18 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on September 19 as they host the Ferrum Panthers at 2pm. They will then hit the road to Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats on September 25. On September 26, the Warriors will travel to Bristol, TN to take on the King Tornado at 2pm.
