DUE WEST, SC - The Fleet Women's Volleyball team faced the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas tournament tonight in Belk Arena.  The Fleet would come away with the 3-0 victory in three tightly contested sets.  The largest margin of victory for the Fleet was only three points.  

Neither team would lead by more than two points in a back and forth 1st set.  The Fleet would call timeout trailing 20-19, and would even the score at 23 after a Bobcats' error.  A Kelly Sullivan kill would give the Fleet the 24-23 edge, forcing a Lees-McRae timeout.  A Katie Blitch service ace would give Erskine the 1st set win, 25-23.  Neither team attacked efficiently in the first, but Sullivan lead the Fleet attack with 8 kills, while Dodge dished out 13 assists.  

In the 2nd set, the teams would be tied at 10-10 before the Bobcats would take a 14-11 lead by stuffing two Fleet attacks at the net.  A Dodge kill and a Duncan service ace would tie the set at 14 and force a Bobcats' timeout.  The two teams battled to a 22-22 tie, setting up another close finish.  The Bobcats would call timeout after a block by Sullivan and Marissa Mayfield gave the Fleet set point.  A Lees-McRae error would give the Fleet the 2nd set victory, 25-22.  The Fleet held the Bobcats to a .000 hitting percentage in the set.  Dodge actually led Erskine with 4 kills to go along with 9 assists.

After another tightly contested start to the 3rd set, the Bobcats would push ahead 13-10.  Kills by Sullivan and Dodge would bring the Fleet back even at 13.  For the 3rd straight set, the teams would enter the late stages of the set tied.  This time at 20-20.  The Bobcats would take a slight advantage at 23-21, forcing a Fleet timeout.  A Sullivan kill and Mayfield ace would bring the Fleet even at 23.  Catherine McAllister would follow with a kill to give Erskine a one point advantage and match point. Mayfield would follow with another service ace and the Fleet would win, 25-23.  

Both offenses struggled with consistency, but Erskine held the Bobcats to a .090 hitting percentage for the match.  Sullivan paced the Fleet offense with 15 kills, while Duncan, Mayfield, and Sami Harting all contributed 6 kills.  Dogde added a stellar performance with another double-double (36 assists and 11 digs).  She also just missed a triple-double finishing with 7 kills.  

The Fleet's victory means that they advance to the Conference Carolinas semifinals and will host the reminder of the tournament in Belk Arena.  Semifinal matches are set for 5:30 and 7:30 pm this Saturday.  King University will face Limestone College at 5:30 pm and the Fleet will take on Barton College at 7:30 pm.