Box Score Mount Olive, N.C. – After dropping the first set, the Erskine Flying Fleet (9-3, 6-1) won the next three sets to defeat the University of Mount Olive Trojans (4-5, 4-3) 3 to 1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18) and give Head Coach Cole Tallman his 800^th career victory.
 
Mount Olive came out firing, hitting a school-record .857, to easily win the first set 25 to 15.  Bret Rutledge hit a perfect 1.000, going 5 for 5.  Teammate Robert Poole was almost as equally as impressive, knocking down 5 kills on 7 attempts.
 
Erskine regrouped and won the next two sets by the same score of 25 to 23.  In the second set, Erskine won the set's last three points to tie the match at 1-1.  The Fleet got a kill from Mike Michelau (Trevor, WI, Westosha Central High School) and an ace byRoberto Perez (Dorado, P.R., Bayamon Military Academy) before winning game point on a Trojan hitting error. 
 
The Fleet held off a late charge by the Trojans to win the third set.  After a kill by Michelau gave the Fleet a 24 to 20 lead, the Trojans scored the next three points to draw within a point.  Michelau knocked down game point to seal the victory.
 
With the momentum firmly in hand, Erskine cruised to a 25 to 18 victory in the fourth set behind 6 kills by Perez. 
 
Perez finished with a game-high 16 kills while Michelau had 12 kills.  Junior Omar Melendez (San Juan, P.R., Colegio San Ignalio de Loyola) also contributed 10 kills.  Setter David Grandy (Laguna Hills, CA, Laguna Hills High School) had another terrific night, handing out 50 assists with 5 digs.
 
For the Trojans, Poole led a trio of Trojans in double-digit kills with 15.  Andrew Sydow finished with 12 kills and 4 blocks while Rutledge ended with 11 kills.
 
Erskine travels next weekend to Chicago, Illinois, to play Loyola University and Lewis University.