DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine Women's Volleyball team went 1-1 in their home tournament to start of the 2021-22 women's volleyball season.  The Fleet matched up with Shorter University (G.A.) in their first match of the day at 10 am and, after winning the first set, fell 3-1.  After about an 8 hour break, the Fleet came back for the primetime matchup with Georgia College and won 3-2, dominating the 5th set infront of a rowdy home crowd.
 
MATCH 1 vs Shorter University (G.A.)
Set 1: The Fleet came out dominant in their first set of the season and were led by some old faces, in Kaile Tuisamatatele and Katy Torgerson, as well as some new faces, in Meredith Hollinger and Mallory Carter.  The Fleet dominating at the net and were aided by service errors from Shorter.  Laney Gaston led the Fleet with 13 assists, while Hollinger and Torgerson both added 5 kills a piece.
 
Set 2: Set number 2 started off close and stayed close throughout, with neither team gaining more than 3 points of breathing room, until Shorter pulled away 19-23 and finished the set 21-25.  Laney Gaston followed up her impressive first set with a 12 assist second set.  Makenzie Kinne added 4 kills for the Fleet.
 
Set 3: The 3rd set was more of the same, with neither team expanding their lead past 3 points throughout, and Shorter taking the 28-30 victory.  Laney Gaston put in another 12 assist set and Kaile Tuisamatatele led the team with 5 kills. 

Set 4: In the 4th set, the Fleet were tried to even the match back up, but as Shorter took a 5 point lead near the middle of the set, the Fleet could not fight back and lost 19-25.  The Fleet offense struggled in set 4, totaling only 10 assists and 10 kills.
 
THE PLAYERS
Laney Gaston had a great outing to start the season with 45 assists.  Kaile Tuisamatatele led the team in both kills (16) and blocks (6).

THE TEAM
Erskine hit .196 (49 K / 19 E / 153 TA) for the match.

MATCH 2 vs Georgia College
Set 1: The Fleet started off hot again in their second match of the day, burying the visiting Georgia College 25-16 in the opening set infront of a favorable home crowd.  Laney Gaston continued her hot streak, opening the match with 14 assists, and was aided by a host of hitters on the Fleet side of the court (Kaile Tuisamatatele, Katy Torgerson, Makenzie Kinne, and Meredith Hollinger).
 
Set 2: The Fleet started off slow in the second set and, though not due to a lack of effort, could not catch up, as the Shorter point gap continued to grow.  Shorter secured the second set win with 14-25.  The Fleet were non-existent at the net on defense, logging a total of 0 blocks in the entire set.
 
Set 3: Looking to bounce back, the Fleet opened set number 3 on an 8-2 run and, even though they gave up the lead near the middle of the set, hung on 25-21 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.  The Fleet were highlighted by a 6 kill set from Makenzie Kinne and exceptional team defense across the board.

Set 4: In the 4th set the Fleet looked to feed of the energy they had found in set number 3 and close out the match, but strong all around hitting from Georgia College.  The biggest bright spot for the Fleet in set 4 was Meredith Hollinger coming alive, carrying the Fleet with 7 kills.  

Set 5: Set 5 was all one side, on the court, and in the stands as the Fleet crowd rallied behind the squad as they jumped all over Geogia College 6-0 then extended that lead to 10-2 to practically put the match out of reach.  The rest was all for the fans as the Fleet won 15-6, capped off by an explosive kill by Meredith Hollinger, giving the Fleet their first win of the season.
 
THE PLAYERS
In their first 2 matches as members of the Flying Fleet Meredith Hollinger and Mallory Carter looked like difference makers.  Although the stat sheet may not have always shown it, Hollinger was decisive and devastating to opposing defenses attacking the net, and Mallory Carter seemed like a leader on the court at all times, picking up and boosting up her teammates at all times.  Makenzie Kinne (16 K)  Meredith Hollinger (16 K / 4 SA)  Kaile Tuisamatatele (13 K / 2 B)

THE TEAM
Erskine hit .185 (62 K / 27 E / 189 TA) for the match.

WHAT'S NEXT? 
The Fleet will play matches tomorrow in Day 2 of the Erskine Tournament at 10 am (vs University of West Georgia) and 6 pm (vs Mars Hill University).

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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