DUE WEST, SC - In what would be their 3rd straight five set match, the Flying Fleet were unable overcome a 2-1 deficit and fell 3-2 to the Lions of Emmanuel College tonight in Belk Arena.  Erskine's last defeat came on September 19th at home to Armstrong St. University.

The Lions would take a slim lead early in the 1st set, but the Fleet would even the score at 14-14 before running away to a 25-17 victory.  Senior Kelly Sullivan led the Fleet attack with 4 kills in the set while Kristen Dodge dished out 10 assists.  

In the 2nd set, Emmanuel would once again race out to a led.  The Fleet trailed 12-6 early in the set, but would fight all the way back to tie the Lions at 18 before taking a lead on a Sullivan service ace.  Emmanuel would reclaim the lead at 21-20 and win the 2nd set 25-23. 

In a repeat of the first two sets, the Lions would take an early lead, 13-10, and force an Erskine timeout.  They would stretch that lead to 19-12 to force a second Fleet timeout.  Erskine would rally to tie the game at 23, but the Lions would score the next two points to take the 3rd set 25-23 and a 2-1 lead in the match.  Kelly Sullivan again led the Fleet attack in the set with 9 of the Fleet's 18 kills in only 14 attempts.  

In the 4th set, it was the Fleet that would jump out to an early 7-4 lead forcing an Emmanuel timeout.  Out of the timeout, the Fleet would continue to gain momentum stretching the lead to 12-4 on back to back kills by Dodge.  Coach Vahjen would call timeout as the Lions would push back to cut the lead to 19-16.  After two late Fleet errors, they held a small 24-23 lead.  An Emmanuel service error would give the Fleet the 25-23 set victory and even the match at 2-2.  Sami Harting paced the Fleet attack in the set with 6 kills in 11 attempts.  

In the decisive 5th set, the Lions would hold an 8-5 lead as the teams switched sides of the net.  Two Emmanuel errors would even the score at 9-9, but the Fleet would call timeout trailing 12-10 after a Lion's service ace.  Sullivan would register 4 straight kills for the Fleet, but the Lions would respond to even the score at 15.  The teams would trade point until two Erskine errors would give the Lions the set 20-18 and the match, 3-2.   

On her senior night, Kelly Sullivan lead the Fleet with a season high 23 kills (.391 hitting percentage).  Harting contributed 16 kills and Payton Duncan finished 1 kill away from a double-double with 9 kills and 18 digs.  Dodge dished out 54 assists while Kendall Kirk had 20 digs.  

The loss represents the Fleet's only loss in Conference Carolinas play this season and they finish with a 15-1 record.  They will head in to the Conference Carolinas tournament next Tuesday as the #1 overall seed.  Tournament matchups will be announced later this evening.