Box Score University Park, Pa. – While the Flying Fleet lost in straight sets 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-23), Erskine almost took two sets from the Nittany Lions of Penn State University tonight in non-conference men's volleyball action at the Recreation Building.

In a reoccurring trend, the Flying Fleet struggled to find any consistency in the first set.  PSU leapt out to a 6 to 1 lead and never looked back, winning the set 25 to 14.

Erskine played much better in the next two sets, losing both sets by the same score 25 to 23.  In the second set, neither team gained more than a two point.  Sophomore Mike Kawa (Debica, Poland, Elk Grove High School) tied the game with a kill at 23 to 23 after which PSU scored the next two points to win the set 25 to 23.

After finding themselves down by three points early, the Flying Fleet rallied in the third set to take an 18 to 16 lead.  Sophomore Mike Michelau (Trevor, WI, Westosha Central High School) knocked down back-to-back kills and sophomore Nathan Camnitz (Orlando, FL, Colonial High School) added another one.  Later with the game again tied at 23 to 23, Erskine committed consecutive errors, a hitting and a service error, to give PSU the set at 25 to 23.

Michelau finished with a game-high 18 kills and freshmanRoberto Perez Vargas (Dorado, P.R., Bayamon Military Academy) had 10 kills.  Setter Corey Marks (Southwest Ranches, FL, Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School) handed out 30 assists and had a game-high 9 digs.

PSU was led by Aaron Russell's 13 kills while teammate Nick Goddell had 10 kills. 

Erskine stays in Pennsylvania to play St. Francis University tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.