CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan picked up their first Conference Carolinas victory of the season on Sunday afternoon as they took down the Chowan Hawks in a 3-0 final score.

The Warriors totaled 37 kills and posted an overall hitting percentage of .248 in the victory over the Hawks. Freshman Karson Haley led the Warriors as she had 14 of the kills. Angel Jimenez had seven kills and Megan Gilliland had six. Of the 34 assists, Amiyah Spann led the team with 18 while Katie Fulton was right behind her with 12. Spann went on to record three aces. Both Faith Paxton and Michaela Andress had two aces.

Southern Wesleyan picked up 47 digs in the match with Michaela Andress leading the team with 12. Right behind her was libero Faith Paxton with 11 digs. The Warriors accumulated nine blocks. Trinity Gibson had four blocks in the match.

How it Happened …

Set One

The Warriors struck quickly in the first set off an ace by Katie Fulton. They continued to push ahead with kills by Gracie Wilson and Michaela Andress to extend their lead to 5-1. The Hawks countered with an attack by Jada Caruthers, but Gracie Wilson went up and blocked her attack on the net. Chowan persisted as Alexa Wasil and Caruthers each collected kills. Amiyah Spann served in her first ace of the contest. The Hawks fought back as an ace by Jada Caruthers and a kill by Alexa Wasil put them within two points of the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Angel Jimenez drilled the ball down off a pass from Spann to put the Warriors on top 15-12. Megan Gilliland put down three kills and then Micheala Andress secured another kill to keep the Warriors lead at three points. A match point ace by Faith Paxton secured Southern Wesleyan a 25-19 point victory in set one.

Set Two

The Warriors jumped out first in the second set as Angel Jimenez laid down a kill, but the Hawks countered quickly with a kill of their own off the hands of Alexa Wasil. Southern Wesleyan was not discouraged as Michaela Andress blocked one Chowan attack and then put down a kill of her own to allow the Warriors to regain the lead. Chowan challenged right back and took the lead off a kill by Makeda Edwards and then aces by Alexis Wasil. The Hawks challenged again with another attack by Jada Caruthers, but Trinity Gibson got up to block the attack. Kills by Karson Haley allowed the Warriors to tie the set back up. The Warriors would not back down as they continued their 18-point run to give them a 24-10 point lead before the Hawks were able to score again. Jadyn Brown put down a kill and then Jada Caruthers served in an ace. However, it was not enough as Angel Jimenez collected a set by Amiyah Spann and drilled it down to the ground to give the Warriors a 25-12 point victory.

Set Three

Chowan secured the first point of the final set off a kill by Alexa Wasil. The lead was short lived as on the next play Megan Gilliland collected a kill to tie the set up. With the match tied up, Amiyah Spann served in an ace to give the Warriors the advantage. Southern Wesleyan pushed on with kills by Angel Jimenez and Katie Fulton, and a block by Megan Gilliland. The Hawks challenged right back as Makeda Edwards secured a kill of her own to give Chowan the lead. Chowan’s lead was short-lived as an ace by Micheala Andress and kills by Karson Haley allowed Southern Wesleyan to take a 18-14 point lead. Gracie Wilson drilled the ball down for a kill to give the Warriors a five point lead. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as another kill by Wilson and then a bad set by the Hawks allowed the Warriors to win the final set 25-19.

What’s Next

Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Rome, Ga., on October 9 where they will take on the Shorter Hawks. They will then return to Central, SC as they begin a three match homestead. The Warriors will take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions on October 11 at 6 p.m. and then host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on October 12 at 2 p.m. They will wrap up their home stead on October 15 as they welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 6 p.m.