Tigerville, S.C. – North Greenville men’s volleyball downed Erskine College on Wednesday night 3 – 2 (24 – 26 / 25 – 22 / 20 – 25 / 25 – 18 / 15 – 13) in a five-set thriller in Hayes Gymnasium.

The Basics

• Score: NGU – 3 / Erskine – 2
• Records: North Greenville 8 – 9 (4 – 5) / Erskine College 2 – 11 (1 – 7)
• Location: North Greenville University (Hayes Gymnasium)

How It Happened

• North Greenville led for much of the first set until the Fleet evened it up at 22 – 22 with the help of a North Greenville attack error.
• The Fleet earned a 24 – 23 lead but Ben Hamsho evened it up at 24 with a kill. Erskine scored the next two points with a kill from Absalon Williams and another NGU error to take the 26 – 24 win.
• The Crusaders responded in the second set but had to come from behind to even the set count.
• The Crusaders trailed 17 – 15 midway through but scored the next three points including a Hamsho service ace to take an 18 – 17 edge.
• The Fleet tied it up at 22 – 22 later in the frame on a kill from Kevin Braceros but NGU responded with three unanswered points including kills from Hansho and Brandon Baker and an Aaron Campbell service ace to earn the set.
• The two squads would trade wins in the third and fourth sets to send it to a fifth and deciding game. Erskine took set three 25 – 20 while NGU cruised to a 25 – 18 win in the fourth.
• North Greenville trailed by for much of the fifth set. The Crusaders got some help to pull even at 13 – 13 when Griffin Spence’s serve flew long.
• The error would be the only help North Greenville needed as Jackson Gilbert followed with back-to-back aces to finish off the Fleet.

Inside the North Greenville Box Score

• Matthew McManaway led the Crusaders with 12 – kills on the night. He was also solid on defense, finishing the night with a pair of solo blocks and seven assists.
• Jackson Gilbert led all players with three service aces to go along with five kills. Jake Boldog dished out 43-assists.
• Dustin King led the Crusaders on defense with 18 – digs.

Inside the Erskine Box Score

• Keegan Sullivan led all players with 14 – kills while Daniel Hermida had 12. Matt Friddle led the Fleet with 38-assists.
• Defensively Antonio Delgado led Erskine with nine to go along with Hermida’s nine digs.

Next Time Out

• The Crusaders play host to Coker College on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm.