Box Score Due West, S.C. – Erskine (9-9, 6-6) got 21 kills by both Mike Michelau (Bristol, WI, Westosha Central High School) and Mike Kawa (Debica, Poland, Elk Grove High School) to stun Lees-McRae 3 to 2 (18-25, 25-20, 26-24, 21-25, 15-12) tonight in Conference Carolinas men’s volleyball action at Belk Arena.

The Fleet appeared to be in trouble after dropping the first set 18 to 25.  Erskine had twelve kills in the set, led by four kills from both Neal Stanley (Apopka, FL) and Michelau, but committed five attack errors along with six service errors.  Meanwhile, the Bobcats knocked down 11 kills with only two errors while tallying five blocks.  Randy Ramirez and Josh Jones both had three kills each while Jones also assisted on three blocks.

Erskine grabbed the momentum early in the second half on a couple of kills by Michelau and Kawa.  More importantly, the Fleet did a better job hitting around the Lees-McRae blocks recording 16 kills with just three errors.  After stuffing the Fleet five times in the first set, the Bobcats failed to score on a block in the second set.

In the third set, neither team could hold more than a two point lead at any given time.  Erskine won three consecutive points to win the set 26 to 24.  Kawa blasted 9 kills to pace the Fleet attack.

The Bobcats hit on all cylinders offensively in the fourth set, recording 17 kills on just 25 attacks.  Matt Harpenau led the Bobcats with 5 kills on 7 attempts while Brady Markle also recorded 4 kills on 4 attempts.

Erskine dominated the fifth set offensively, tallying 13 kills to win the set 15 to 12, and upset the 3^rd place Lees-McRae Bobcats.
Stanley also reached double-digits in kills for the Fleet with 12.  Setter Corey Marks (Southwest Ranches, FL, Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School) established a new season high with 55 assists while Michael Schneck (Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University High School) also had a season-best 19 digs from his libero position.

Markle finished with a team-high 17 kills and teammate Joshua Jones had 13 kills with no errors on just 19 attempts.  He also had 6 blocks on the night.

The win keeps the Fleet’s hopes alive of hosting a first round game in the upcoming conference tournament.  Erskine now trails Lees-McRae by just half a game for 4^th place in the conference standings.

Erskine travels to in-state conference rival Coker College next Tuesday.  Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.