DUE WEST, SC - The road to the Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Championship ran through Belk Arena for the 2nd time in 3 years.  The Fleet did not disappoint the crowd, and claimed the tournament championship, just as they did the last time they hosted the tournament in 2014.  Today, they would defeat the Bulldogs of Barton College, 3-0.  

In the 1st set, the Fleet claimed the lead for good at 11-10 on a block from Nate Camnitz and Neal Stanley. They would extend the lead to five points to 17-12 on a kill by Roberto Perez.  They would be able to hold that lead and win the first set 25-20 on a Barton service error.  The Fleet hit .310 in the set using a balanced attack.  Mike Michelau and Omar Melendez would get 4 kills each while Roberto Perez and Stanley contributed 3 each.  Grandy dished out 13 assists.   

Barton would jump out to a 4-2 lead that the Fleet would quickly erase at 5-4.  The two team traded points until Erskine would use a four point run to take a 12-8 lead on a block by Michelau.  The Fleet would maintain at least a two point cushion the rest of the way while reaching their largest lead on the winning kill by Michelau.  Erskine would take the set 25-19 and a 2-0 set lead in the match.  The Fleet offense converted 14 of their 20 attack attempts for a .600 hitting percentage.   All players on the floor for Erskine registered at least a .500 hitting percentage.  Michelau led the way with 6 kills in 8 opportunities while Camnitz converted 3 out of 4.  

In the 3rd set, the two teams would play evenly until a four point run by the Fleet to take a 14-9 lead that they would continue to build on.  Their lead was extended to 8 points at 22-14 and Perez would close it out with a kill to give the Fleet the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0.  Perez would lead the Fleet attack in the set with 8 attacks on only 11 chances.  

For the match, the Fleet were once again lead by the attack of Perez and Michelau.  They pounded out 13 and 12 kills respectively.  Melendez also contributed 8 kills in only 10 chances.  Grandy once again had a match high 34 assists for the Fleet.  

The Fleet's graduating seniors are the first class in Erskine Men's Volleyball history.  They have enjoyed great success for a program that just began 4 years ago. Erskine's Michael Schnek was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Mike Michelau and Roberto Perez were named to the All-Tournament team.   The win gives Erskine 2 of the last 3 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Tournament Championships.  Along with that, it allows them to advance to the NCAA Men's Volleyball National Tournament that will be held in State College, Pennsylvania at Penn St. University.  Their matchup will be announced tomorrow afternoon.