DUE WEST, S.C. - The Southern Wesleyan volleyball team fell 3-2 in an extremely close nailbiter against conference rival Erskine Saturday on the road. With the loss the Warriors fall to to 16-6 overall and 11-2 in conference with both losses coming to the Flying Fleet. Erskine moves to 15-5 overall and remains a perfect 12-0 in Conference Carolinas. 

The Warriors won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-15, but the Fleet rallied to win the third and fourth sets 25-20 and 25-17, respectively. In the decisive fifth set, the teams traded points. Though fifth sets normally end at 15, the winning team must win by two points, and the teams continued swapping points well past 15. Eventually, Erskine would win the fifth set 20-18 in front of a rambunctious home crowd. 

Sarah Hughey (23) and Paige O'Connor (20) both recorded over 20 kills in the match to pace the offensive attack. Megan Widener added an impressive 55 assists at setter while libero Milica Stamenic tallied 27 digs. 

"I'm very proud of the team today," said head coach Julia Reininga. "The girls worked very hard and corrected so many things from our first matchup against Erskine earlier this season. Our seniors (Hughey and Widener) were amazing today."

The game ends a four game roadtrip and the Warriors return to Tysinger Gymnasium for the final three regular season games. The Warriors' next matchup is Friday, Oct. 30 against Belmont Abbey at 7 p.m. The game is faculty and staff appreciation day. Southern Wesleyan will also play on homecoming,Oct. 31, against Pfeiffer at 5 p.m.