CENTRAL, S.C. -- Three Crusaders posted double-doubles and Sheridan Young had a career-high for digs, but No. 8 seed Southern Wesleyan rallied for a 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 30-32, 25-12, 15-9) victory over ninth-seeded Belmont Abbey in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Women' Volleyball Tournament Friday night. The Abbey won the first and third sets for a 2-1 lead before the Warriors won the final two sets.
Belmont Abbey concludes the season with a 15-13 overall record, while SWU (13-12) advances to a quarterfinal matchup at Emmanuel on Tuesday.and a 10-10 mark in Conference Carolinas play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Renata Bolado led the Crusaders with 21 kills and a season-high 17 digs. Her kill total marked the fifth time this year that she has topped 20, while the double-double was her 16th of the campaign.
- Tyler Case added finished with 12 kills and 10 digs for her 10th double-double, while Lola Sultenfuss contributed 11 kills while hitting .280.
- Emma Youngblood also notched a double-double -- her eighth of the season -- with 38 assistsand 13 digs.
- Sheridan Young paced the defensive effort with 27 digs, while Bolado added 17.
- Belmont Abbey opened the match with a 25-22 victory in the first set, overcoming a late deficit with a strong finish. The Crusaders closed the set on a 5-2 run to secure the opening advantage.
- Southern Wesleyan responded with a 25-18 win in the second set to even the match before an epic third set with Belmont Abbey prevailing 32-30. After the Warriors rallied to tie the score at 24-24, the teams traded points before the Crusaders secured the final two points to take the set.
- Southern Wesleyan controlled the final two sets, winning 25-12 and 15-9 to claim the match and advance in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
