Box Score DUE WEST, S.C. – The King University men's volleyball team fell at Erskine College in three sets. After putting up a fight in each set King was unable to close one out falling 3-0. The Tornado posted 21 total blocks in the match, led by Matthew Lychock and Jon Wheaton with five each.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Erskine 3, King 0 (25-20, 25-19, 26-24)
LOCATION: Belk Arena; Due West, S.C.
RECORDS: King 4-12, 1-9 CC, Erskine 9-3, 8-0 CC
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Neither team was able to gain separation until late in the first set after a kill from Jeff Sprayberry would tie the set 16-16 and Erskine would answer with three straight points to take their largest lead of the set.
- Trailing 21-18 the Tornado fought to close back in with a Lychock kill down 24-20 but were unable to close back in as Erskine took set one 25-20.
- The Flying Fleet posted the first two points in set two but the Tornado answered with a 9-1 run fueled by three rejections at the net from King, topped off by a solo block from Sprayberry.
- After a timeout with King leading 8-3 Erskine would readjusted a come out posting an 11-2 run to take a 14-10 advantage.
- The Tornado would slow the Flying Fleet down with back-to-back blocks from Wheaton and Drooker but Erksine still held a 14-13 lead.
- A couple King errors and an Erksine ace would push the Fleet advantage to 19-14 and a couple kills from Sprayberry would bring King within three, trailing 22-19 but three straight Erskine points would give them set two 25-19
- King would battle in the third to extend the match to a fourth set as they would hold the advantage for almost the whole set.
- A Lychock kill would grab King a five point lead over the Flying Fleet, as Wheaton would follow up with two kills as the Tornado lead 17-12.
- After a Luhmann kill with the Tornado leading 22-17, the five point advantage would fade with three straight Erskine kills.
- A Wheaton, Luhmann block would pause the Fleet's run as King would now lead 23-20.
- Again, Erskine answered with three straight kills tying the set 23-23, followed by a Tornado timeout.
- A Sprayberry kill would give the Tornado set point but the Flying Fleet would not settle as the rattled out another three straight to take the final set 26-24
- Wheaton and Lychock tallied five blocks a piece.
- Nick Drooker handed out 24 assists, four blocks, and a couple aces.
- Jimmy Nuckolls led the Tornado with 10 digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Mike Michelau posted a match-high 21 kills, hitting .533.
- Michael Schneck led the Flying Fleet with 15 digs.
- David Grandy posted a match-high 42 assists.
UP NEXT
- King with travel to Emmanuel, Ga. to take on Emmanuel College in league action on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
- Erskine will be on the road against Coker College Friday evening.
