Box Score Due West, S.C. – Playing before a spirited home crowd, the Erskine Flying Fleet fell to the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 18-25, 17-25) tonight in the semi-final round of the Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Championship Tournament at Belk Arena.

Erskine’s Caitlin Bullock (Lexington, SC, White Knoll High School) earned her second “double-double” of the tournament with a game-high 20 kills and 17 digs.  She also had two service aces and a block on the evening.  Senior Liz Massey (Greenville, SC, Eastside High School) had a terrific defensive game with 15 digs and 3 blocks.  She also returned 22 serves without committing an error while adding 5 kills offensively.  Senior setter Larz Chabra (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) earned 39 assists to finish just three assists shy of 4,000 in her career at 3,997, a school record.

For the Crusaders, all three Schellenberg sisters earned “double-doubles” on the night.  Hannah knocked a team-high 17 kills along with 15 digs while Lydia added 12 kills with a game-high 17 digs.  Kay had a game-high 47 assists with 15 digs from her setter position.

Belmont Abbey overcame an early Erskine lead to win the first set 25-20.  Erskine grabbed an early 6-3 capped by a service ace from freshman Kelly Sullivan (Wellington, FL, Wellington Community High School).  The Crusaders rebounded to tie the game at 8-8 on a kill and service ace by Hannah Schellenberg.  The score remained tied until Remick Tiller and Lydia Schellenberg blasted consecutive kills to put Belmont Abbey up 20-16.  Erskine closed to within two coming out of their timeout but the Crusaders regained their lead to win the set 25-20.

In the second set, Erskine leapt out to a 13-9 lead as Belmont Abbey committed several attack errors.  The Fleet stretched their lead to eight as Massey and Sullivan twice teamed up to block the Crusaders’ attack.  Erskine cruised to win the set 25-16.

The Abbey never trailed in the third set as they snatched an early two point that stretched it to four points on a kill and service ace by Angela Jubb.  The Fleet pulled back within one on an ace by Massey at 11-12 but the Crusaders responded with an 8-3 run to put the set away and win the third set 25-18.

The fourth set mirrored the third set with the Crusaders holding a slim lead through the early portions of the set.  After back-to-back service aces by Bullock, the Crusaders went on a 10-5 run highlighted by kills from Hannah Schellenberg and Kay Schellenberg.  The Abbey won the fourth and decisive set 25-17.

Erskine ends their season at 16-13 overall and 13-3 in conference.

With the win Belmont Abbey advances to the championship match this Saturday where they will face Queens University.  Queens University defeated North Greenville tonight 3-1.