VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Erskine College women's volleyball team (0-2) began its 2024 season with a pair of matches at the Valdosta State Fall Tournament on Friday. The Fleet were defeated by conference foe Converse University (2-0) in straight sets in the afternoon and then came up just short in a five-setter against Rollins College (2-0) in the nightcap.
 
MATCH 1 STATS vs Converse (0-3 FINAL, 15-25, 16-25, 13-25)
KILLS: Ali Angell (5)
ACES: Ailena Mykins (2)
BLOCKS: 3 players with 1
ASSISTS: Ailena Mykins (8)
DIGS: Rylee Bath (13)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Converse won each of the opening eight points to begin the match, forcing the Fleet to play from behind in the first set. Erskine battled back in the middle stages and got within four at 18-14 after a kill from Becca Yohe. However, the Valkyries pulled away late in the opening set. The Fleet started Set 2 much better and consecutive kills from Alexis Waddy and Ryleigh Taylor followed immediately by a pair of aces from Ailena Mykins leveled things at nine apiece. Erskine fought through the remainder of the set, but were unable to get over the hump. In the third set, Converse jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and never looked back as the Fleet were defeated in straight sets to open their season.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit -.023 (17 K / 19 E / 88 TA) for the match and allowed 10 Converse aces.

THE PLAYER
In her collegiate debut, Sumter native Rylee Bath totaled a team-leading 13 digs and also dished out four assists.

MATCH 2 STATS vs Rollins (2-3 FINAL, 18-25, 25-22, 14-25, 27-25, 15-8)
KILLS: Becca Yohe (13)
ACES: Meghan DeWalt (2), Ailena Mykins (2)
BLOCKS: 3 players with 1
ASSISTS: Ailena Mykins (17)
DIGS: Astyn Casey (18), Becca Yohe (18)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing one of the premier teams in the Sunshine State Conference in the nightcap, the Fleet more than held their own all evening long. Ailena Mykins started the match with an ace on the game's first point, but again Erskine was plagued by a slow start. The Fleet stayed within striking distance but couldn't get closer than within five points down the stretch of Set 1. However, the second set began with a kill and an ace from Becca Yohe to start Erskine on a high note. Rolllins battled back, but Yohe delivered again with consecutive kills to give the Fleet some breathing room before a Meghan DeWalt ace extended the lead to four. Again, the Tars fought back, but a freshman Alexis Waddy came through with a pair of clutch kills as part of a mini 4-0 scoring run for the Fleet before a Rollins attack error sealed a Set 2 win for Erskine. Set 3 belonged to the Tars from start to finish and it looked as if Set 4 was headed the same direction, until Erskine rattled off four straight points, capped by a Ryleigh Taylor kill to fire the Fleet in front, 14-13. From that point on, the fourth set turned into a seesaw affair, until another freshman for the Fleet stepped up in a crucial moment. With Erskine staring at match point, Texas native Kinslee Smith tallied a kill to tie things at 25. After a Rollins attack error on the next point, Smith came through again with another kill to send the match to a fifth set. An early kill from Yohe helped the Fleet jump out to a quick 4-1 lead, but Rollins answered by winning nine of the next 10 points. Consecutive kills from Ali Angell and Ryleigh Taylor got Erskine within three points, but the Fleet were unable to get any closer as they dropped a narrow five-set battle to close out opening night.
 
THE TEAM
Erskine hit .182 (50 K / 21 E / 159 TA) for the match, but were undone at the front row, finishing minus-5 in the blocks department in the match.

THE PLAYER
Sophomore setter Ailena Mykins earned her first double-double of the young season and 19th of her Erskine career, totaling 17 assists and 10 digs in the match. Mykins also added a pair of aces and a kill on her only swing of the evening.

WHAT'S NEXT? 
Erskine concludes play in the Valdosta State Fall Invitational with two more matches on Saturday, taking on Winston-Salem State at 2 p.m. before a matchup with the hosts at 7 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos