DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College women's volleyball team (0-4) wrapped up play in its opening weekend with a pair of matches to conclude the Erskine Invitational on Saturday. The Fleet were defeated by Lee University (2-1) in straight sets in the afternoon and then lost in five sets to Clark Atlanta University (1-2) in the nightcap.
 
MATCH 1 STATS vs Lee (0-3 FINAL, 20-25, 12-25, 22-25)
KILLS: Ali Angell (11)
ACES: Lena Mykins (2)
BLOCKS: Kimmy Stiltner (3)
ASSISTS: Lena Mykins (21)
DIGS: Lena Mykins (7)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Erskine came flying out of the gates on Saturday morning against Gulf South opponent, Lee, as the Fleet rattled off a 4-0 and a 5-0 scoring run in the early stages of the opening set to take an 11-6 lead led by a pair of kills Ali Angell and Rebecca Yohe. Lee responded and took a 14-13 lead, but a Kimmy Stiltner kill followed by a Lena Mykins ace put the Fleet back in front. The back end of the opening set was a back-and-forth affair until the Flames won six of the final seven points to take the opener. Lee took the first four points of Set 2, but the Fleet answered back as Stiltner and Yohe each had a kill and a block, helping Erskine get within a point at 8-7. However, the Flames went on another 4-0 burst and never looked back in Set 2. Ali Angell willed the Fleet to a perfect 5-0 start in Set 3, as the sophomore tallied three kills in the early going of the must-win set. Erskine held on to the lead for some time, and even despite relinquishing it during the middle stages, kills from Yohe and Mykins put the Fleet back in front, 15-14. The Flames took control from that point, opening up a 22-18 lead. An Astyn Casey ace capped a quick 3-0 spurt from the Fleet to get them within a point, but the Flames never gave up the lead from there as Erskine was beaten in its opening match of the day.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit .120 (25 K / 16 E / 75 TA) for the match.

THE PLAYER
Ali Angell was a real bright spot for the Fleet in their first match of the day, posting a match-high 11 kills on an impressive .529 hitting percentage.

MATCH 2 STATS vs Clark Atlanta (2-3 FINAL, 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 21-25, 14-16)
KILLS: Ali Angell (15)
ACES: Astyn Casey (4)
BLOCKS: Izzy Froemming (5)
ASSISTS: Lena Mykins (26)
DIGS: Astyn Casey (22)

HOW IT HAPPENED
In their final match of the weekend, the Fleet began on the right foot, as a Ryleigh Taylor kill opened up an early 7-4 lead in the opening set. But, Clark Atlanta responded with a 6-0 scoring run to flip the Erskine lead on its head. CAU led by as many as six points in the set, 21-15, before Erskine began a comeback attempt, winning the next four points thanks to consecutive Rebecca Yohe aces and a kill from Brianna Beyerle. However, the Fleet were unable to get any closer as they dropped the opening set. In Set 2, Ryleigh Taylor got the scoring started with a kill and added an ace moments later to give Erskine a 4-3 lead, which they would not surrender. Freshman Jordyn Autry provided a spark off the bench with four kills in the set as Erskine leveled the match at one apiece. The Fleet rode that momentum into Set 3, starting on a 7-2 run capped by an Ali Angell kill. CAU got back within a pair, but a tremendous serving run from Brianna Beyerle helped the Fleet open up 20-12 lead. The Panthers stormed back, winning the next six points, but Autry tallied a pair of kills late to seal a crucial Set 3 victory for the Fleet. After starting each of the first three sets hot, Erskine was a little slow out of the gates in Set 4, trailing 10-3 early. The Fleet responded by winning the next five points, but the offense struggled in the set, hitting well into the negatives as they were unable to overcome the slow start. However, the Fleet had another hot start in Set 5, taking an 8-3 lead as Angell tallied three kills in a four-point stretch to put the Fleet in the driver's seat. But, CAU answered in a big way and led 14-10, forcing the Fleet to deal with four match points. With their backs against the wall, Taylor tallied a kill and a huge ace from Astyn Casey helped the Fleet climb all the way back to tie things at 14. Despite the valiant effort to keep the match alive, though, Erskine was defeated in a five-set heartbreaker.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit .077 (45 K / 33 E / 156 TA) for the match.

THE PLAYER
Freshman setter Lena Mykins filled up the stat sheet in the finale, tallying a double-double with 26 assists and 12 digs. Mykins also added 3 aces and an impressive 5 kills on a .500 hitting percentage.

WHAT'S NEXT? 
Erskine goes on the road for the first time in 2023 next weekend, as the Fleet make the trip down to Frankin Springs, Georgia for the Emmanuel Tournament. Erskine takes on Eckerd and Shorter on Friday, before a rematch against Lee on Saturday and a bout with the reigning SAC champions, Wingate, that evening.

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