Box Score Wilson, N.C. – After earning up the program’s first win on Tuesday, the Erskine men’s volleyball team followed it up with their first-ever conference win, a 3 to 1 victory over the Bulldogs of Barton College tonight at Wilson Gymnasium.

Erskine is now 2-0 overall and 1-0 in conference.  Barton falls to 0-2 in both conference play and overall.

Setter Michael Schneck (Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University High School) earned the Fleet’s first-ever “double-double” with a game-high 38 assists and 14 digs.  Mike Michelau (Bristol, WI, Central Westasha High School) had a huge night, crushing a game-high 20 kills in 47 attempts.  Mike Kawa (Debica, Poland, Elk Grove High School) also reached double-digits in kills with 11 for the Fleet.

The Bulldogs were led by Chandler Thomas’ 11 kills, 7 digs, and 3 blocks.  Jordan Robison had 29 assists and 7 digs.

The Fleet and the Bulldogs swapped points through the early portion of the opening set.  Erskine broke the tie on a kill by Michelau followed by a service ace by Schneck.  The Fleet stretched it to a four point lead at 18 to 14 behind back-to-back kills by Kawa and Schneck.  The Fleet closed out the set winning 25 to 20.

Similar to their first win, Erskine dominated the second set, winning 25 to 14.  The Fleet jumped out quickly on the Bulldogs behind a couple of kills by Michelau and two Bulldog attack errors.  With the aid of two Fleet attack errors, Barton got back to within two points on a couple of kills before the Fleet exploded for a seven point lead, 18 to 11, on two kills by Kawa and Michaleu respectively.  Sophomore Neal Stanley (Apopka, FL) closed out the set with back-to-back kills.

Barton rallied to win a tight third set 25 to 22.   With the game tied at 14 apiece, Barton’s Thomas put down a kill to give the Bulldogs the lead that they would not relinquish.  Erskine had several opportunities to tie the game but could not produce the key point.

In the decisive fourth set, the Fleet needed extra points to put away the Bulldogs, after missing on two game point opportunities on service errors.  Trailing by two late in the set, Erskine rallied to tie the game at 23 each.  Following a Barton error, Erskine had their first game point opportunity but served the ball into the net to tie the game at 24-24 and did so again after gaining the advantage at 26-25.  Finally, Erskine won two consecutive points to win the set 28 to 26 and the match 3 to 1.

Erskine plays at Mount Olive College tomorrow.  Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.