Box Score DUE WEST, S.C. – The King University men's volleyball team qualified for the Conference Carolinas Tournament for the second straight season, but the Tornado had the task of face top seed Erskine College in the first round. The Flying Fleet took the first two sets before King took the third set to extend the match. However, the Tornado couldn't complete the comeback, falling 3-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Erskine 3, King 1 (25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21)
LOCATION: Belk Arena; Due West, S.C.
RECORDS: King 8-24; Pfeiffer 19-6
HOW IT HAPPENED
- King held a slim 7-6 lead in the first set before Erskine scored three straight points to take a 9-7 advantage.
- The Flying Fleet held their lead there until they scored three straight points to open up an 18-14 lead.
- Erskine later scored five straight points and six of the last seven to take the set 25-17.
- In the second set, Erskine took the lead from the onset and later used a 5-1 run to take a 15-9 lead.
- The Tornado tried to come back, scoring four straight points to pull within 19-18, but the Flying Fleet answered with back-to-back points.
- After a King point, Erskine scored four of the final five points to take the set 25-20.
- King opened the third set with back-to-back kills from Jeff Sprayberry and Jon Wheaton and later opened up a 10-6 lead following another kill from Sprayberry.
- Erskine came back and took the lead before the teams started trading points.
- The Flying Fleet held a 20-18 advantage before the Tornado scored three straight points to take a 21-20 advantage.
- Erskine answered with a point, but Sprayberry put King back on top with a kill and Nick Drooker gave King a 24-21 lead with a block.
- After Erskine staved off two set point chances, Sprayberry gave King the 25-23 victory with another kill.
- The Flying Fleet started the fourth set with three straight points to gain the advantage.
- The deficit grew to 9-5 before King rolled off three straight points, capped by a Wheaton block to pull within one.
- Trailing 10-8, Sean Luhmann sparked a 4-0 Tornado run with a kill. Wheaton and Adrian Besson teamed up for a block before Wheaton gave King a 12-10 lead with a solo stuff.
- However, the Flying Fleet came back, scoring five of the next eight points to take a 15-13 lead.
- King scored consecutive points later to take an 18-17 lead, but the Flying Fleet answered with four straight points.
- From there, Erskine went on to take the set 25-21, and the match 3-1.
- Sprayberry led King with 14 kills while Wheaton followed with 10.
- Wheaton also added four blocks, two solo and two assists along with three digs.
- Luhmann chipped in with seven kills and posted a team-high 12 digs.
- Drooker handed out 34 assists to go along with five digs and two blocks.
- Playing his final match for the Tornado, Matthew Lychock accounted for five kills and two blocks.
FOR THE FOES
- Robert Perez Vargas led Erskine with 20 kills to go along with four digs.
- Mike Michelau followed with 18 kills, seven digs and three blocks.
- Neal Stanley chipped in with 11 kills and 11 digs.
- David Grandy posted 53 assists and added nine digs.
- Michael Schneck registered a match-high 15 digs.
