DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College women's volleyball team (1-8, 1-0 CC) opened Conference Carolinas play with a win over Southern Wesleyan University (1-6, 0-1 CC) in four sets at Belk Arena on Friday night. Freshman setter Lena Mykins led the way for the Fleet with 50 assists, and fellow freshman Rebecca Yohe paced the offense with 16 kills.
 
MATCH STATS vs Southern Wesleyan (3-1 FINAL, 25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22)
KILLS: Rebecca Yohe (16)
ACES: 3 players with 2
BLOCKS: Ali Angell (2), Brianna Beyerle (2)
ASSISTS: Lena Mykins (50)
DIGS: Astyn Casey (11)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Fleet began conference play on their home floor on Friday night and kills from Rebecca Yohe and Ryleigh Taylor helped Erskine take an early lead in the opening set. Erskine led by as many as five through the middle of the set and even withstood a pair of 4-0 SWU scoring runs to lead 21-19. But, the Warriors responded again by winning the next two points. Yohe's fourth kill of the opening set put the Fleet back in front, and Meghan DeWalt came off the bench to serve and sparked a run to close out a Set 1 victory. Yohe picked up right where she left off witn another kill to begin Set 2, but Erskine fell behind quickly, trailing 6-3. The Fleet battled their way back, and after a Kimmy Stiltner kill, a pair of SWU attack errors gave Erskine its first lead of the set, 11-10. The next few points were shared until consecutive kills from Stiltner, Ali Angell, and Yohe helped the Fleet open up a 21-16 lead. The Warriors got within three, but a Taylor kill and another SWU attack error capped a Set 2 victory for the Fleet. Erskine led Set 3, 10-6, and appeared to be in control, but Southern Wesleyan refused to go quietly, and a 7-1 scoring run gave the visitors a 13-11 lead. Erskine battled to keep it close, but SWU pulled away late, winning the final five points of the third set to avoid a sweep. Despite losing some momentum heading into Set 4, Erskine began the set well and thanks to an ace from Jordyn Autry off the bench followed by another Taylor kill, the Fleet had a 13-8 lead. SWU kept the set interesting and clawed back to tie things at 19, but a Yohe kill before another Autry ace regained the Fleet's lead. SWU answered again, this time winning the next three points to snatch a 22-21 lead. However, after a Warriors' service error tied the game, Erskine delivered the final blow with kills from Taylor and Brianna Beyerle sandwiched between a DeWalt ace as the Fleet began conference play with a victory.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit a season-high .250 (57 K / 23 E / 136 TA) for the match.

THE PLAYER
In her first action in Conference Carolinas play, freshman Lena Mykins ran the show for the Fleet offense, dishing out a career-high 50 assists in the four-set victory. Mykins also added 8 digs, a pair of kills, and an ace. Mykins' 50 assists are the most by any Conference Carolinas player in a four-set match this year, and the third-most in the conference in any match overall in 2023. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine continues conference play at home against King University (2-5) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Fleet swept the Tornado in 2021, but King won both meetings last season.

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