Box Score Due West, S.C. – In their first-ever game, the Erskine men’s volleyball team soundly defeated non-conference foe Emmanuel College 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-19) at Belk Arena.

Freshman Mike Michelau (Bristol, WI, Central Westasha High School) led the new Fleet team with a game-high 13 kills and 4 blocks.  Sophomore Neal Stanley (Apopka, FL) contributed 8 kills along with a game-high 8 digs while freshman Michael Schneck (Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University High School) had 30 assists from his setter position.

Emmanuel was led by Ralph Ray with 8 kills and 6 digs while Meshach McKnight had 20 assists and 6 digs. 

After a slow start in the first set, Erskine dominated almost every facet of the game to the delight of the large home crowd.  The first set remained close with neither team gaining more than a two point lead.  Although the Fleet grasped the lead for good midway through the first set following a Lion attack error sandwiched between a pair of kills by Michelau and Mike Kawa (Debica, Poland, Elk Grove High School), the Lions remained within striking distance.  Erskine maintained their slight lead to win 25-22.

The Flying Fleet ran away with the second set, scoring 18 points with 10 points coming off kills and another five points on service aces.  Both Kawa and Omar Melendez (San Juan, P.R.) had two service aces each.

Erskine continued to play well in the third set, led by Michelau’s 5 kills and 2 blocks, while defensively limiting Emmanuel to just 10 points.  Erskine committed nine of their fifteen service errors in this set, the only discouraging part of the Fleet’s performance tonight.

Erskine plays their next three games on the road.  The Fleet travel this weekend to Barton and Mount Olive Colleges for their first two conference games.