Eagles Pick Up Hard-Fought Win Over DII Opponents Erskine College

WALESKA, Ga. — Reinhardt men's volleyball edged NCAA Division II Erskine in a five-set battle Wednesday night, earning a 3-2 victory behind a dominant deciding frame in front of an energized home crowd. The Eagles fell behind early but rallied for a 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 19-25, 15-5 win that stretched just over two hours at the Brown Athletic Center.

The night began with a milestone moment as libero Alex Sanchez was recognized pre-match for breaking the NAIA all-time career digs record, drawing a loud ovation from the home fans. That energy carried into the opening set, but Erskine settled in late. The Flying Fleet closed the first frame on a strong run that featured a service ace from True Bauer and late kills from Colin Fahey and Tyler Kuehl to take a 25-20 decision and an early 1-0 lead.

Reinhardt answered in the second set, tightening its block and finding rhythm in the attack. The Eagles used a mid-to-late-set surge fueled by kills from Andrea Forcina and opposite hitter Jakub Aniolczyk, along with a key service ace from Aniolczyk, to flip momentum and secure a 25-20 win. That push continued into the third, where Reinhardt's serve pressure and balanced offense took control. Multiple service aces, including more from Aniolczyk, and steady production from outside hitter Gabriel Gutierrez helped the Eagles pull away for a 25-19 victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Erskine refused to go away in the fourth set. The Flying Fleet capitalized on Reinhardt errors and leaned on Kuehl and Fahey at the net to stem the Eagles' momentum. Timely kills from that duo, paired with improved defensive play, allowed Erskine to build separation and close out a 25-19 win, forcing a decisive fifth set. The back-and-forth through four sets showcased both teams' blocking and back-row defense, with long rallies and momentum swings keeping the crowd engaged throughout.

The fifth set, however, belonged to Reinhardt. The Eagles raced out to an early lead behind aggressive serving and efficient side-out play, quickly seizing control at the net. Gutierrez delivered key kills and added to the pressure at the service line, while Reinhardt collectively stacked aces and transition points to overwhelm Erskine. The hosts closed the match in emphatic fashion, 15-5, sealing a signature win over a Division II opponent.

Reinhardt finished with 55 kills and 12 service aces as a team, outpacing Erskine's 49 kills and single ace. Gutierrez paced the Eagles with 13 kills, three service aces, five digs and 16.0 points. Forcina matched him with 13 kills on an efficient .417 attack percentage and added two aces for 15.5 points, while Aniolczyk turned in a pivotal all-around performance with nine kills, five service aces and 16.0 points. Defensively, Reinhardt totaled 42 digs and eight team blocks to help close down the Flying Fleet attack late.

Bauer led Erskine with 12 kills, a .292 hitting mark, nine digs and one ace for 14.5 points, while Fahey was highly efficient with seven kills on .636 hitting and three solo blocks, finishing with 12.5 points. The Flying Fleet produced 13.0 total blocks and hit .258 as a team, pushing Reinhardt throughout before the Eagles' serve-and-pass game controlled the final frame. The result gave Reinhardt a hard-fought home victory, punctuating Sanchez's record-setting recognition with a marquee five-set win.