Due West, SC – The Flying Fleet cruised past Coker College today winning the match three games to zero.  With the win, Erskine improves to 3-3 (5-10 overall) in Conference Carolinas while Coker College falls to 0-7 (1-15 overall).

The first set started slow for the Fleet as they traded points with Coker.  But the Erskine attack, led by Liz Massey (Greenville, SC/Eastside H.S.) and Lauren Stewart (Hartwell, GA/Hart County H.S.) with three kills apiece, found its stride, pushing the lead to 18 to 9 and forcing Coker to take a timeout.   The Cobras were able to slow the pace but the lead was too great as Erskine won the set 25 to 17.

Erskine struck fast in the 2nd set shooting out to an 8 to 2 lead behind two Coker errors, a nice service ace by Larz Chabra (Mt. Pleasant, SC/Wando H.S.) and a massive spike by Liz Massey.  Unfortunately for Coker, they could not slow the Erskine attack as Erskine pushed their lead to 14 to 4 and forcing another Coker timeout.  Coker tightened their defense and was able to make a run before Erskine closed out the set 25 to 20.  Freshman Liz Massey once again led the Erskine attack with 5 kills and a block.  Alicia Bragg (Rock Hill, SC/Rock Hill H.S.) was also outstanding, earning 4 kills on just 6 attempts.

Coker pushed Erskine in a very exciting final set.  The Cobras worked the Fleet hard to start the match, forcing an Erskine timeout holding a 16 to 12 lead.  Emerging from the timeout, the Fleet would score several quick kills, led by Alison Albers (Goodhue, MN/Iowa Lakes CC) and Liz Massey, to take a 19 to 18 lead.  At this point, neither team could gain more than a one point advantage.  Both coaches constantly substituted and called timeouts to set their personnel and strategy.  Erskine would take a one point lead at 30 to 29 on a vicious spike by Liz Massey.  Liz Massey would then combine with Alison Albers to block the Coker attack for the winning point to end the set 31 to 29.

For the match, Liz Massey would record her second double-double of the season, recording 14 kills and 11 digs.  She would also dish out 4 assists and notch 3 blocks.  Also, contributing significantly to the Erskine offense was Alicia Bragg with 9 kills on just 14 attempts while setter Larz Chabra handed out 38 assists.  In addition to Massey’s double digit dig effort, Bailey Thornton (Pauline, SC/Dorman H.S.) and Brooke Dodge (Duncan, SC/Byrnes H.S.) also had 12 digs and 14 digs respectively.

Erskine goes on the road next week to face archrival Anderson University on Wednesday, followed by another roadtrip on the weekend to face Belmont-Abbey and Lees-McRae.  Coker returns home to battle Barton College on Tuesday.