DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College women's volleyball team (0-2) began its 2023 season with a pair of matches to start the Erskine Invitational on Friday. The Fleet were defeated by Tusculum University (1-1) in straight sets in the afternoon and then lost in straight sets to Lincoln Memorial University (2-0) in the nightcap.
 
MATCH 1 STATS vs Tusculum (0-3 FINAL, 21-25, 11-25, 18-25)
KILLS: Ryleigh Taylor (7)
ACES: 4 players with 1
ASSISTS: Lena Mykins (7), Meghan DeWalt (7)
DIGS: Ryleigh Taylor (7)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Erskine began its 2023 campaign on the right foot, winning the match's first point thanks to a kill from freshman Kimmy Stiltner. That began a stretch of back-and-forth play between the Fleet and the Pioneers, until a Ryleigh Taylor kill and a solid serving run from Meghan DeWalt gave Erskine an 11-9 lead. Tusculum responded by winning the next four points of the set to regain the led, and despite the Fleet getting within a point on multiple occasions, Erskine never broke through as Tusculum escaped with a 25-21 opening set victory. The Pioneers built off that momentum in the early stages of Set 2, taking 10 of the first 12 points of the set and never looking back. The third set followed a similar trend as the opener with the Fleet taking the first point in a see-saw affair through the early stages. This time it was Stiltner who's kill was followed by a nice serving run from Lena Mykins to get Erskine within a point, 10-9. But, Tusculum followed with an 8-1 scoring run to open up its lead as the Fleet fell in straight sets. 
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit .024 (23 K / 21 E / 83 TA) for the match.

THE PLAYER
In her first match in over a year, Ryleigh Taylor paced the Fleet with 7 kills and 7 digs.

MATCH 2 STATS vs Lincoln Memorial (0-3 FINAL, 16-25, 17-25, 19-25)
KILLS: Ryleigh Taylor (6)
ACES: Astyn Casey (3)
ASSISTS: Kimmy Stiltner (5)
DIGS: Astyn Casey (11)

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the nightcap, facing another SAC opponent, Erskine came flying out of the gates in the opening set. The Fleet took the first three points of the match, with an Ali Angell kill being sandwiched between LMU attack errors. The Railsplitters settled in shortly after, but an ace from Kimmy Stiltner fired the Fleet back in front, 6-5. Erskine hung around through the middle stages of the opening set until LMU rattled off seven straight points. Stiltner and Jordyn Autry had kills late in the set, but Lincoln Memorial took the opener. Set 2 was also evenly contested early on, as a Ryleigh Taylor kill was followed by consecutive aces from freshman Astyn Casey tied things at seven apiece. But, LMU answered with another 7-0 scoring run to go back in the lead. Erskine closed the set strong behind a pair of kills from Ali Angell and Ryleigh Taylor but the deficit was too much to overcome as the Railsplitters took the second set. In Set 3, the Fleet behind early, looking up at a 10-4 deficit. The Fleet hung around, though, trailing by just three to four points through the middle stages, and eventually made their run. A Taylor kill followed an ace from Brenna Williams and suddenly Erskine was within a point, 20-19. But, LMU won the final five points of the set as Erskine was beaten in the nightcap.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit -.037 (18 K / 21 E / 82 TA) for the match.

THE PLAYER
Making her first collegiate start, Astyn Casey led the Fleet in digs (11) and aces (3), while also dishing out 3 assists.

WHAT'S NEXT? 
Erskine wraps up play in the Erskine Invitational with two more matches tomorrow, starting with a bout against Lee University (1-0) at 10 a.m. before concluding the tournament against Clark Atlanta University (0-1) at 5:30 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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