Due West, S.C. – The Erskine Men's Volleyball Team will use part of their spring break to fly to California this weekend for their last pair of non-conference games against Hope International University and California Baptist University.  While in California, the team will also spend time volunteering at the Dream Center, a non-profit Christian ministry that meets the needs, heals the hurts, and helps solve the problems of inner-city people.

Erskine enters the two contests with a nine game win streak, the longest win streak in the program's two year history. 
 
The Fleet Flying have used a relentless offense that not only leads the conference but ranks third best in the nation.  The Fleet, who are averaging 13.4 kills per set, have had four players record double-digit kills in a game this season.  Led by Mike Michelau's 4.39 kills per set, the Fleet have pummeled opponents with only one set going to the max five sets.
 
But the biggest surge during the streak has come on the defensive side where the Fleet have increased their digs per set from 9.5 to 9.87 per set.   In part this is due to the return of libero Michael Schneck (Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University High School), who missed several games due to illness, but also to the better play by the entire team on the back row.
 
Friday night the Fleet will square off against the Royals Hope International University (12-7) starting at 7:00 p.m. (PDT).  The Royals have lost their last five games, including common opponents in Warner University and Emmanuel College.  Erskine beat both those institutions at home earlier this season.
 
Similar to the Fleet, the Royals bring a very potent offense, averaging just under 13 kills per set at 12.84.  Led by Dominque Blonski's 3.44 kills per set, the Royals have five players averaging better than a kill per set.
 
The Royals' Sport Information Department will be providing live stats and video of the match.
 
Defensively, the Royals are aggressive at the net, averaging 2.39 blocks per set, led by Griffin Levinski's 1.09 blocks per set. 
 
On Saturday the Flying Fleet will face the Lancers of California Baptist University (4-15) starting at 4:00 p.m. (PDT).  The Lancers, who play UC-San Diego Thursday night, have lost their last three games, but two of those losses have come at the hands of two Top 10 ranked teams in Long Beach State and UC-Irvine.  In fact, because of the tough conference CBU plays in, 13 of the Lancers' 15 losses have been by ranked opponents.
 
The Lancers have five players averaging better than 2 kills per set, led by Johannes Brink's 3.98 kills per set.  Like Hope International, the Lancers play well defensively at the net, averaging over 2 blocks per set.  Amir Lugo-Rodriquez leads Lancers, averaging 1.19 blocks per set.
 
The Lancers' Sports Information Department will be providing live stats and video and may be accessed on game day at their main athletic website.