BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Junior Mark Shayka contributed a team-high nine kills and senior Drew Blecher dished out 21 assists while the Lees-McRae men's volleyball team fell to Erskine, 18-25, 14-25, 17-25, in Conference Carolinas play Tuesday evening at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Flying Fleet (13-5, 10-2 CC) swung at a .529 clip in the contest while Roberto Perez Vargas led all players with 15 kills. The Bobcats (1-18, 0-12) saw juniors Keenan Freitas (Hilo, Hawaii) and Rudy Klaas (Dakar, Senegal) add five kills apiece.
EC scurried out to an 8-2 lead following three kills from Mike Michelau. He finished with 10 kills.
Shayka (Hamilton, Va.) and Freitas delivered kills while LMC cut the deficit to five, 10-5.
Klaas and Hector Serviat (Miami, Fla.) combined for three kills, but LMC trailed 22-16.
The Flying Fleet used a block from Michelau and Omar Melendez to close out the opening set.
EC turned in a match-high .609 clip.
Shayka churned out three of his kills in the early stages of the second while EC held a 12-6 advantage.
The visiting squad used a 9-2 run to keep LMC at arm's length.
The Bobcats produced a quick 4-1 spurt late in the frame, but EC's Nathan Camnitz tallied one of his two kills to thwart the rally.
Freitas produced a kill and the trio of Serviat, Freitas and Klaas stuffed an attempt from Neal Stanley while EC hung on to a 14-10 lead.
Vargas rattled off four kills in the latter part of the third while a Melendez kill wrapped up the contest.
Freitas led the team with four digs.
The Bobcats take an eight-day hiatus before traveling to King (Tenn.) Wednesday, March 30 at 7 p.m. in Bristol, Tenn.
- LMC -
