WALESKA, GA.  – The Erskine Men's Volleyball team (3-1) downed Reinhardt University (0-1) in a five set thriller on Wednesday night by a score of 3-2 (28-26, 20-25, 35-33, 19-25, 15-13).
 
THE ESSENTIALS:
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | Conf. Carolinas Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
The Fleet and Eagles had never faced off before tonight's match.

THE MATCH
Set 1: Erskine got off to a slow start, trailing 10-1 in the opening set and forcing head coach Justin Brubaker to take a timeout. The Fleet responded and came roaring back, leveling the score at 18 apiece. The Eagles scored the next four points, and Erskine took another timeout. But the Fleet staved off multiple Reinhardt set points and a Cole Vigo block secured a set one victory for the Fleet.
 
Set 2: The second set was a back-and-forth affair with both teams holding four points lead in the middle stages. Erskine had an 18-14 lead, but the Eagles closed the set scoring 11 of the final 13 points and took it 25-20 to level the match at one. Jacob Whyte had a team-high five kills in the set.
 
Set 3: Another slow start plagued the Fleet in set four as Reinhardt took the opening four points. Erskine rallied back again, and eventually took its first lead of the set at 19-18. Set three then turned into a thriller as both teams held off numerous opposing set points. Erskine finally clinched the set by a score of 35-33 on its eighth set point from an attack error by the Eagles
 
 
Set 4: Reinhardt had a 20-14 lead in the second set as coach Brubaker took a timeout. Erskine won the next three points, but the Eagles took the following four points to set up seven set points. The Fleet held off a few Reinhardt set points, but the Eagles forced the match to a winner-take-all set five with a 25-19 victory.
 
 
Set 5: Erskine took its first lead of the set at 5-4 and never looked back. A Reinhardt run trimmed the lead to 12-11, but Erskine took a timeout, and the Fleet answered, earning two set points. A Jason Sall kill sealed a 15-13 set win and an Erskine victory.
 
THE PLAYER
Jacob Whyte tallied a team-high 21 kills and led the Fleet with 15 digs. Whyte also added a pair of service aces to help lead Erskine to a win.
 
THE TEAM
The Fleet had just a .107 (50 K, 35 E, 140 TA) hitting percentage, but picked up 11 service aces led by three each from Vigo and Sall. Erskine also dished out 46 assists, led Michael Moscatelli's 37 assists.

WHAT'S NEXT 
Erskine continues its non-conference road stretch to begin the season when they travel to Limestone University (1-1) on Friday night at 8:00 p.m.
 
The Fleet trail the all-time series with the Saints 7-10 and have lost five straight games against Limestone. Erskine hasn't beaten the Saints since a 3-0 sweep at Limestone back in February of 2018.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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