Due West, S.C. – The Erskine Flying Fleet (11-6, 7-1) puts their seven-game win streak on the line Saturday afternoon against the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College (12-5, 4-2).  Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

Erskine currently sits atop the conference table at 7-1 while Lees-McRae is in fourth place at 4-2.  For Erskine, a win moves them a step closer to clinching their first-ever regular season conference title.  Erskine has already played their two-game series with the preseason conference favorites, the University of Mount Olive and Limestone College.  Erskine split their two-games with UMO while taking both games from Limestone. 

It is the first game between these two teams this season.  Last year the two teams split the series with Erskine claiming the first one in Banner Elk 3-0 but dropping the second game at home 3-2.

Erskine has pounded their way to first place.  The Flying Fleet currently leads the conference in kills per set and service aces.  The Fleet have three players ranked in the Top 12 in kills, including the conference leader sophomoreMike Michelau (Trevor, WI, Westosha Central High School) with 4.48 kills per set.  Teammates Roberto Perez Vargas (Dorado, P.R., Bayamon Military Academy) and Mike Kawa (Debica, Poland, Elk Grove High School) rank 10^th and 12 in the conference, averaging 3.20 and 2.88 kills per set, respectively. All three are also ranked in the Top 10 in service aces as well.

But the Fleet do play quality defense as well.  The Fleet currently lead the conference in digs per set and are paced by last year's Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year Michael Schneck (Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University High School) with 2.56 digs per set.

While the Bobcats may not have the explosive offensive power of the Flying Fleet, the Bobcats do play very well at the net.  Outside Brady Markle is third in the conference in kills per set, averaging just a shade under four kills per set at 3.96, and teammate Matt Harpenau is fifth in kills per set at 3.71.  On other side of the net, the Bobcats lead the conference in blocks and have four players who rank in the Top 15.

Lees-McRae plays at Limestone College prior to venturing to Due West Friday night.  Entering their two weekend contests, the Bobcats own a modest 3-game win streak having beat Belmont Abbey then winning both games at the Coker Tournament against Sacred Heart and Coker College.

The Erskine Sports Information Department will be providing both live stats and video of the game.