Young Harris, GA – Southern Wesleyan took down the Young Harris Mountain Lions on Tuesday evening in a 3-1 final.
The Warriors picked up 55 kills in their victory over the Mountain Lions. Ainsley Stovall led the team with 14. Two other Warriors had double digits in kills as Michaela Andress had 13 kills and Kaylon Chapman had 10. Amiyah Spann led the team with 26 assists in the match. Behind her, Rylie Barriger had 15 assists. Barriger, Briley Wolff and Alexxis Wader all served up aces.
Defensively, the Warriors collected 63 digs. Michaela Andress led the team with 17 digs. Behind her, Alexxis Wader had 12 digs and Amiyah Spann had 10 digs. Southern Wesleyan had six total blocks in the match against Young Harris. Andress led the team with two blocks in the game.
Match Vitals
Set One: Young Harris 27, Southern Wesleyan 25
Set Two: Southern Wesleyan 28, Young Harris 26
Set Three: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 20
Set Four: Southern Wesleyan 25, Young Harris 16
Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-5 / CC 6-3) Young Harris (6-9 / CC 0-8)
How It Happened
Set One
Young Harris was first on the board as Hannah Depp opened up the match with a kill. The Warriors fought back as Ainsley Stovall collected a set from Amiyah Spann and got the ball down for a kill. Amya Dryden got in a kill, but Southern Wesleyan answered with a kill by Kaylon Chapman. Southern Wesleyan continued to battle back as Michaela Andress laid down a kill. Andress got in another kill to put the Warriors within two points of the Mountain Lions. A kill off the hands of Sarah Mitchell tied the set up and then Chapman got in a kill to give Southern Wesleyan the advantage. Ainsley Stovall got in several kills, but Young Harris answered with a kill by Mary Margaret Wilson. Wilson blocked the next attack by Megan Gilliland to allow the Mountain Lions to claim the first set in a 27-25 final.
Set Two
The Warriors struck first in the second set as Michaela Andress drilled the ball down for a kill. However, the Mountain Lions countered with a kill by Mary Margaret Wilson. The Warriors continued their attacks as Briley Wolff and Ainsley Stovall got in kills. Wilson collected a set by Sami Gambill and got the ball down for a kill to give the Mountain Lions the lead. Hannah Depp went on the attack, but Megan Gilliland blocked her attack on the net. Young Harris pressed on as Piper Duckworth and Amya Dryden each got the ball in for kills. Southern Wesleyan would not back down though as Wolff got the ball down for a kill. Back-to-back kills by Ainsley Stovall allowed the Warriors to tie the set up at twenty three. The Warriors pressed on as Wolff got the ball in for a final kill to allow the Warriors to claim the second set in a 28-26 final.
Set Three
An ace by Lyza Thigpen allowed the Mountain Lions to take the first point of the third set. The Warriors tied the set up as Ainsley Stovall collected a set by Amiyah Spann and got the ball past the Young Harris defense for a kill. The Mountain Lions regained the lead as Piper Duckworth got the ball down for a couple of kills. Mary Margaret Wilson went on the attack, but Sarah Mitchell was there to block her attack on the net. Kills by Michaela Andress kept the Warriors within two points of the Mountain Lions. Stovall got in back-to-back kills and then Rylie Barriger served up an ace to allow the Warriors to tie the set up at fourteen. Young Harris answered as Brooklyn Thomason served up an ace. Southern Wesleyan fought on as Andress and Megan Gilliland got in several kills. Amiyah Spann set the ball up to Ainsley Stovall who drilled it past the Mountain Lions to allow the Warriors to take set three in a 25-20 final.
Set Four
Southern Wesleyan went on the attack early as Briley Wolff got the ball down for a kill. However, Young Harris answered seconds later as Piper Duckworth got the ball in for a kill. Ainsley Stovall went on the attack as she got in a couple of kills to give the Warriors a 5-1 point lead. Mary Margaret Wilson attempted to get another point in for the Mountain Lions, but Wolff was there to block her attack. Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Michaela Andress and Kaylon Chapman drilled the ball past the Young Harris' defense. Alexxis Wader served up an ace to extend the Warriors lead to ten. The Warriors continued to shut down the Mountain Lions as Megan Gilliland got in a kill to extend the Warriors lead to 20-8. Kathryn Urbanek and Amya Dryden got down a couple more kills. However, a service error by Young Harris allowed Southern Wesleyan to claim the final set in a 25-16 final.
What's Next
The Warriors will remain on the road on October 3 as they travel to Mount Olive, NC to take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans at 1pm. Southern Wesleyan will return home on October 7 as they host the Emmanuel Lions in Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 6pm. The Warriors will then travel to Murfreesboro, NC on October 9 to take on the Chowan Hawks. On October 10, the Warriors will travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs.
