Due West, S.C. – The Erskine Men's Volleyball Team is off to Pennsylvania this weekend to play both Penn State University and St. Francis University.

On Friday night, the Flying Fleet square off against the #12 ranked Nittany Lions of Penn State University.  The Fleet have won their last three games in a row, thanks in part to their high octane offense, which averages a conference-leading 13.35 kills per set, over a full point ahead of the next team, Pfeiffer University. 

Sophomore setter Corey Marks (Southwest Ranches, FL, Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School) currently ranks first in the nation in assists per set while teammates Mike Michelau (Trevor, WI, Westosha Central High School) and Mike Kawa (Debica, Poland, Elk Grove High School) both rank in the top 10 nationally in kills per set.  The Fleet also have a third offensive weapon in freshman Roberto Perez Vargas (Dorado, P.R., Bayamon Military Academy), who is quietly putting together a fine season.  Vargas currently is eleventh in the league in kills per set.

PSU (5-2) also enters the contest on a win streak, having won their last five games.  Like the Fleet, the Nittany Lions opened their season with two losses on the road but are undefeated at home thus far at 4-0.  Penn State does host Ohio State on Wednesday night prior to Erskine's arrival.

PSU is led by a pair of brothers, Aaron and Peter Russell, who average 3.81 and 3.00 kills per set respectively.  Aaron, a sophomore, also leads the team in service aces with 12. 

After battling PSU, the Flying Fleet will travel over to play the Red Flash of Saint Francis University on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  The Red Flash are 3-3 on the season and will play fellow Conference Carolinas Pfeiffer University on Friday night.  One of their losses this season is to Lees-McRae College back on January 24^th.  The Bobcats beat the Red Flash at home 3 to 2.

The Red Flash are led by junior Logan Patterson and senior Kyle Beatty; both are outside hitters who average just under three kills per set at 2.91 and 2.86 respectively.  Logan is also first on the team in service aces with 13. 

Both games begin at 7:00 p.m. and may be followed via live stats at:

Penn State vs. Erskine

St. Francis vs. Erskine