Franklin Springs, Ga. – The Emmanuel Men's Volleyball team hosted Erskine College for their final home match in conference play. The Fleet started strong, taking the first set 25-19, and carried that momentum through the next two sets, winning 25-23 and 25-20.
In the first set, the Lions kept things close early, not allowing the Fleet to fully take control. Service errors from Erskine gave Emmanuel opportunities to capitalize at the service line, where the Lions applied pressure with aggressive serves that forced the Fleet out of system. The teams were tied at 11-11 before Erskine gained momentum and pulled away to close the set to earn the 25-19 win.
In the second set, Emmanuel showed more resilience, battling point-for-point with the Fleet. The Lions found rhythm offensively, with Feeney and Cumming contributing key kills to keep the set tight. Matthieu Battaille sparked momentum at the net with a brief "block party," contributing to his three total blocks in the match. Despite their efforts, Erskine maintained a slight edge late in the set and secured a narrow 25-23 victory.
The third set saw the Fleet take control early, building a lead that proved difficult for the Lions to overcome. Although Emmanuel continued to fight and string together points behind strong play at the net, Erskine remained consistent and closed out the match with a 25-20 win.
While the Lions fell in three sets, senior Aiden Feeney led the offense with 7 kills on the night. He was followed by Thijs Van Der Wal and Eleck Cumming, who each added 5 kills. Defensively, Josh Staehlar anchored the back row with several remarkable saves, finishing with 8 digs.
Greg Bodus had 24 assists on the night, while Bodus, Cumming, and
Matthieu Bataille each had 3 blocks.
The match also marked Senior Night for Emmanuel, as the program honored its lone senior, Aiden Feeney, for his dedication and contributions to the team. Feeney led the Lions with 7 kills, making an impact in his final home appearance in a Lions uniform.
Next, the Lions will travel to Wilson, NC to face Barton College at 7PM.
For more information on Emmanuel University athletics, visit goeulions.com.
