GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum men's volleyball team began its 2024 season with a three-set loss to Erskine on Wednesday (Jan. 10).

The Pioneers (0-1) dropped the opener to the Flying Fleet (1-0) by scores of 25-16, 26-24, 25-22.

Edgerrin Austin recorded a match-best 14 kills on a .391 hitting percentage to head up the Erskine attack. Francisco Pomar dished out 38 assists and landed both service aces for the Fleet. Kacper Rybarczyk dug up six attack attempts, while his fellow Pole Wiktor Ankurowski was credited with four total blocks.

Colby Landry finished with nine kills to lead Tusculum offensively, ahead of freshmen Kevin Blankenship (8) and Morgan Makovec (6). The latter fired on a .625 in his collegiate indoor debut. Deklan Wingo (5), Jaden Bramhall (1), and Tristan Blake (1) rounded out the scoring. Blake distributed 28 assists and recorded the lone Pioneer ace. Blankenship led the defensive effort with a team-best six digs and four blocks. Libero Taylor West was next up with five scoops, while Makovec, Wingo, and Bramhall were all credited with three total blocks.

Erskine hit .291 as a team with 40 kills and 17 errors on 79 total attempts. Tusculum hit .143 with 30 kills, 19 errors, and 77 total attacks. The Flying Fleet led the match in assists (39-29), service aces (2-1), and digs (24-16), while the Pioneers tallied more total blocks (9-6).

Next, Tusculum will have a two-match series at No. 13 Ball State. Both Friday's (Jan. 12) and Saturday's (Jan. 13) are set for a 6 p.m. first serve in Muncie, Indiana.