GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Erskine College men's volleyball team (8-7, 3-3 CC) swept Bluefield College (4-9, 1-4) and Tusculum University (1-7, 0-3) in Pioneer Arena on Friday night.
 
THE ESSENTIALS:
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | Conf. Carolinas Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
The Fleet remain perfect against both the Rams of Bluefield College having won all three matches all-time as well as against the Pioneers from Tusculum winning tonight's first meeting.

THE MATCH (Bluefield College)
Set 1: After surrendering the first two points, the Fleet quickly gained control of the opening set with the first of their two 5-0 runs. Leading 9-6, the Fleet fueled another 5-0 run highlighted by a pair of service aces from Jacob Whyte to maintain a 14-6 advantage. From there both teams traded points until the Fleet closed out the opening set 25-14.

Set 2: The only set the Fleet dropped all evening came in set two, but not before a promising start. Erskine opened by securing six of the first eight points. The damage, however, came with the Fleet leading 8-6. The Rams went on an extended run of 12-1 to ensure they would level the match at a set a piece, closing out the Fleet 25-19.
 
Set 3: After a slow start to set two, the Fleet wasted little time in set three. After the Fleet established their early 13-3 lead, both teams would score 12 a piece from there to give Erskine a 25-15 set win.
 
Set 4: Both teams traded punches in the early stages of set four before the Fleet gained the upper hand with a 6-0 run to lead 10-4. From there, the Rams would not manage more than two consecutive points as the Fleet went on to secure the set 25-16 to win the match.

THE PLAYER
Kacper Rybarczyk helped the Fleet by hitting .421 (9K / 1A / 19TA) in the match to pair with five blocks, four service aces and two digs.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit .221 (39K / 18E / 95TA) for the match. The Rams collected four more digs than the Fleet, but Erskine picked up the edge in blocks 13-5.
 
THE MATCH (Tusculum University)
Set 1: The Fleet and Pioneers battled all set long with the Fleet's largest lead coming at 14-11. After trading points, the Fleet finally earned the victory 25-23.

Set 2: In set two, the Pioneers opened with the first point as the teams traded leads early on. With the set tied at 5-5, the Fleet used a 3-0 run to separate and did not look back. Erskine won the set 25-20 off a service error from Tusculum. 
Set 3: The Fleet's offense became increasingly more efficient as they surrendered five fewer points in set three than set two. The Fleet won the final set 25-15.
 
THE PLAYER
Edge Austin produced a team-best .440 (15K / 4E / 25TA) hitting percentage. The redshirt freshman also had six digs.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit .389 (38K / 10E / 72TA) for the match and held the advantage in service aces, digs and blocks over the Pioneers.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet return home to host the University of Jamestown (9-2, 4-0 GPAC) in their final non-conference match of the season.
 
First serve with the Jimmies is set for 7 p.m. in Belk Arena.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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