Due West, SC – Sophomore Lauren Stewart (Hartwell, GA, Hart County High School) earned her first double-double of the season with a game-high 15 kills and 11 digs as #2 Erskine defeated #7 Limestone 3 to 1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-23, and 25-17) in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Championship Tournament at Belk Arena.
With the score tied, Erskine senior Alison Albers (Goodhue, MN, Iowa Lakes CC) gave the Fleet a three point lead at 14 to 11 on a kill followed by a block. Unfortunately, the Fleet surrendered the lead on three consecutive hitting errors. After tying the score at 23 a piece, Albers put down back-to-back kills to win the set for the Fleet 25-23.
Errors plagued the Fleet in the second set. After tying the score at 6 each, the Fleet trailed by two through the middle portion of the set. The Fleet committed consecutive hitting errors to give the Saints a four point advantage at 19 to 15. Limestone closed out the set by forcing three more Erskine errors to win 25-17. The Fleet committed 12 errors in the set.
It appeared the Fleet would have an easy victory in the third set as freshman Mary Crawford James (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Bishop England High School) staked the Fleet to an early 11-2 lead with four consecutive aces. After swapping six points each, Limestone went on a 14-6 run highlighted by back-to-back aces by Holli Dawson to close within a point at 23-22. The Fleet responded with kills by Larz Chabra (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) and Sandra Campbell (Pilot Point, TX, Point Pilot HS) to win 25-23.
The fourth set remained tight until James and Campbell combined for two aces and two blocks to give the Fleet a 17 to 11 lead. Limestone could not cut into the Erskine lead losing the set 25-17.
In addition to Stewart’s 15 kills, Campbell had 10 kills and 8 blocks for the Fleet. Chabra had an outstanding all-around game from her setter position with 7 kills, 34 assists, 9 digs and 3 blocks. James had 6 service aces and a team-high 15 digs for the Fleet.
Limestone’s Jordan Preville also had a “double-double” on the evening with 10 kills and 11 digs. Holli Dawson had a game-high 15 kills for the Saints as well.
Erskine advances to the semi-finals of the conference championship tournament this Friday. The Fleet will host the Bulldogs of Barton College at 6:30 p.m. #3 Barton College defeated #6 Pfeiffer University 3 to 1 in their first round tournament matchup.
Box Score
