Adam Miracle recorded a match-high 14 kills and Mount Olive rallied to win the third set, but Division I IPFW (Indiana University of Purdue University at Fort Wayne) pulled away in the fourth set for a 25-12, 25-17, 23-25, 25-16 victory over the Trojans in non-conference men's volleyball Friday at Kornegay Arena. The match marked the first time in seven years the Trojans played host to a Division I men's volleyball opponent.

Mount Olive (2-3) was down 14-13 in the third set when setter Jackson Metichecchia's hustle play sparked the Trojans. Metichecchia prevented an ace by chasing an errant serve reception out of bounds on the opposite side of the net and playing it back to the Trojan court. Mount Olive was able to put the ball over on three and after the Trojans dug an IPFW attack, Miracle finished the point with a kill from the right side.

Jack Tutty and Alex Rivero combined on a block on the following point and the Trojans went on to take a 21-19 lead on John Nunns' kill. IPFW (4-3) came back with three unanswered points on a pair of kills by Bryan Saunders and a Trojan attack error to regain the lead. But kills by Tutty and Rivero highlighted a 3-0 Mount Olive run and after IPFW fought off one set point, Tutty's kill in the middle forced a fourth set.

The Trojans rallied from an early three-point deficit in the fourth set as a block by Miracle and Tutty helped Mount Olive even the set at 9-9. Kills by Elon Fyfield and Phil Peterson broke the tie and the Mastodons led the remainder of the set. Miracle's kill pulled the Trojans within 14-12, but two aces by Omar Rivera highlighted an 8-1 IPFW to break the game open. Fyfield and Corey Frain combined on a block on match point.

In the first set, a 10-2 run helped the Mastodons break out to a 20-9 lead and the margin stayed in double figures the rest of the set. In the second set, Eddie Rivera served four aces - including three in a row - during his five-point service run as IPFW broke away from a 5-5 tie on its way to a 19-10 lead. A kill and an ace by John Nunns helped Mount Olive get as close as 20-14, but Eddie Rivera served his fifth ace of the set as the Mastodons pulled away for a two-set lead.

Nunns finished with eight kills and five blocks for Mount Olive, while Tutty added seven kills and four blocks. Metichecchia recorded 33 assists, while Dan Arnold sparked the Trojans in the third set with three of his team-high five digs.

Frain led four Mastodons in double figures with 12 kills, Peterson added 11 kills and Fyfield finished with 10. Eddie Rivera tallied 11 kills to go with six digs and a match-high seven aces. Omar Rivera recorded 43 assists and three aces for IPFW, which finished the match with 15 aces. JW Kieckhefer led all players defensively with nine digs. Frain, Fyfield and Saunders recorded four blocks apiece.

The last time Mount Olive played host to a Division I opponent was February 19, 2005, against George Mason during the Trojans' inaugural season of intercollegiate men's volleyball.

Mount Olive and IPFW conclude their two-match series Saturday morning at Kornegay Arena. Match time is 10 a.m.