DUE WEST, S.C. --- Every starter notched at least two digs, including a team-high six from Keenan Freitas, but the Lees-McRae men's volleyball team fell, 23-25, 16-25, 18-25, to Erskine in a Conference Carolinas match Saturday afternoon at Belk Arena in Due West, S.C.
The Flying Fleet (19-5, 15-2 CC) hit .300 or better in two sets while a trio of players had six kills or more. The Bobcats (3-18, 2-15) were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.
Junior Brady Markle (York, Pa.) notched his sixth consecutive double-digit kill effort and has 18 on the season.
Five Bobcats recorded a kill in the early portion of the first set while taking a 9-6 lead.
EC responded with a 12-4 run, capped off by a pair of Roberto Perez aces, taking an 18-13 advantage.
LMC clawed back into it after Freitas (Mountain View, Hawaii) blasted home a pair of kills, 22-20.
The duo of EC's Omar Melendez and Perez notched a kill each and used a Bobcat service error to take the first set.
The second set was a see-saw battle while kills from Freitas and Markle connected on consecutive kills to tie it at 12.
Freitas joined Gabriel Rivera (Cupey Bajo, Puerto Rico) in stuffing a Melendez attack earlier in the set while LMC took a 10-9 lead.
Tied at 12, the Flying Fleet ran away with the set thanks to a 13-4 run, thanks to a pair of block assists from four different players.
John Sobel (Holbrook, N.Y.) delivered a pair of kills early in the third, but EC climbed out to a 13-7 lead.
The Flying Fleet hit a match-best .353 in the final frame.
EC would keep LMC at bay and lead by three or more the rest of the way.
Markle finished with 10 kills while Drew Blecher (York, Pa.) had 16 assists.
The Bobcats wrap up their 2015 slate with a trip to Belmont, N.C. to battle Belmont Abbey Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m.
- LMC -
