DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College women's volleyball team (2-15, 2-5 CC) defeated UNC Pembroke (11-8, 6-3 CC) in straight sets at Belk Arena on Friday evening. After a huge scoring run fueled an opening set victory for the Fleet, Erskine rallied late past the Braves in the final two sets to knock off the reigning Conference Carolinas Tournament champions.
 
MATCH STATS vs UNC Pembroke (3-0 FINAL, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23)
KILLS: Rebecca Yohe (11)
ACES: Astyn Casey (3)
BLOCKS: Sally Spangler (4)
ASSISTS: Lena Mykins (29)
DIGS: Megan Thees (11)

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a cagey, back-and-forth start to the opening set, freshman Astyn Casey had bookend aces on an impressive 8-0 scoring run that included kills by four different Erskine players to give the Fleet a 15-8 lead. The Fleet answered a four-point spurt with one of their own behind a pair of kills from Ali Angell and a Sally Spangler ace. Erskine continued to keep UNCP at arms' length and capped a Set 1 victory with another kill from Angell as Erskine hit a remarkable .438 in the opening set. The Fleet started Set 2 with a 5-1 deficit, but immediately clawed back into it after some Braves' errors and a Rebecca Yohe kill helped Erskine cut the UNCP lead in half. Despite hanging around well through the middle stages, it took Erskine awhile to draw level, and suddenly UNCP had opened up a 20-15 lead. However, the Fleet responded with a 5-0 scoring run sparked by a pair of Lena Mykins' aces to tie the set. A service error put the visitors back in front, but an Angell kill followed by another ace from Casey fired Erskine into the lead for the first time in Set 2. A few points later, a Rebecca Yohe kill sealed a 25-22 victory in the second set for the Fleet. A slow start plagued the Fleet again in Set 3, this time trailing 8-1 and forced into taking an early timeout. Yohe rattled off three quick kills to get Erskine back into the set, but again they were looking up at a five-point deficit in the middle stages. And similar to the second set, Erskine responded with a 5-0 scoring run, this time fueled by back-to-back Yohe kills, followed by a Meghan DeWalt ace and then a kill from Mykins tied the set at 16. The Fleet took their first lead of the set a few points later, thanks to an ace from senior Megan Thees, and then Ryleigh Taylor put the Fleet in the driver's seat with consecutive kills to help Erskine take a 22-20 lead. The Braves refused to go quietly, but with the set knotted at 23, Erskine's front row sealed the sweep in convincing fashion. Spangler and Yohe combined for a block on the first point to set up one match point for the hosts, and then a solo block from Brianna Beyerle put an exclamation point on an Erskine sweep.

THE TEAM
Erskine hit a season-best .288 (37 K / 7 E / 104 TA) for the match.

THE PLAYER
Friday's performance was largely a team effort, but freshman Rebecca Yohe had a team-leading 11 kills and a .310 hitting percentage. The outside hitter also saved her best for last, totaling 6 kills and a block in the third and final set.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine is back in action at home to take on Francis Marion University (9-8, 5-1 CC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. for Senior Day for the 2023 Flying Fleet team.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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