Carly White recorded three of her 17 kills during a match-ending 6-0 run as Mount Olive went unbeaten on day one of the 2012 Mount Olive College Women's Volleyball Invitational, posting a 25-20, 25-23, 25-19 victory over UNC Pembroke Friday at Kornegay Arena. White, who led all players in kills, had only one error in 23 attempts for a .696 hitting percentage.
Mount Olive opened the tournament with a 25-11, 19-25, 26-24, 25-21 victory over Virginia State. Sarah Robertson recorded a kill and an ace for the final two points in a pivotal third set and Mount Olive scored the final five points of the fourth set. Robertson served a career-high six aces for the Trojans.
Against UNC Pembroke, White's kill broke a 12-12 tie in the first set and Mount Olive (3-3) led the rest of the way, although the Braves stayed close throughout the set. The margin grew to as many as four points before UNC Pembroke (2-4) pulled within 21-20 on Ashtin Truesdale's kill. The Trojans closed the set on a 4-0 run as Lauren Lee served back-to-back aces and Dezirae Mackey recorded a kill on set point.
Nicole Powell's ace highlighted a 4-0 Trojan run that broke a 12-12 tie in the second set. UNC Pembroke came back with seven unanswered points on Heather Ciscell's serve and the Braves went on to build a 21-18 lead. White had three kills during a 6-1 run to put the Trojans on top 24-22. UNC Pembroke saved one set point, but Lee's solo block on the left side gave Mount Olive a two-set lead.
Mount Olive appeared to be in control in the third set after consecutive kills by Lee gave the Trojans a 16-11 lead. Ciscell's ace and back-to-back kills by Taylor Gallentine drew UNC Pembroke even at 19-19. But the Braves would not score again in the match.
White's kill broke the tie and Nicole Karas followed a UNCP attack error with an ace. Kills by White and Robertson set up match point and White finished the match with a kill.
Mackey added 12 kills with only three errors in 21 attempts for a .429 hitting percentage for Mount Olive. White finished with four blocks, combining with Ashlee Reuter on three blocks in the final set. Karas recorded 36 assists and Nicole Sparks tallied 10 digs. Six different players contributed to the Trojans' 10-ace attack.
Gallentine finished with 13 kills and only three errors in 25 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage for UNC Pembroke.
After splitting the first two sets against Virginia State in the opening match, Mount Olive used three aces by Powell during an early six-point scoring run as the Trojans went on to build an 18-11 lead in the third set. Virginia State (0-3) chipped away as a block and a kill by Jasmine Davis helped VSU pull within 21-20. Mount Olive rebounded to take a 24-22 lead, but Virginia State saved a pair of set points.
Robertson put Mount Olive back on top with a kill just inside the end line. Her serve landed in the middle of the Virginia State court to clinch the third set for the Trojans.
Mount Olive built a four-point lead in the fourth set, then had to rally from a three-point deficit. Still trailing 21-20, Mount Olive tied the set on a Virginia State service error and Lauren Lee's serve helped force three straight attack errors. Dezirae Mackey's kill on match point sealed the win.
Carly White led all players with 11 kills for Mount Olive, while Lee and Robertson added nine kills apiece. Nicole Karas recorded 40 assists and Powell finished with four aces. Powell and Robertson combined for 10 of the Trojans' 15 aces.
Davis and Whitley Bradley led Virginia State with nine kills apiece. Demera Thomason had 33 assists, while VSU libero Imani Wood had a match-high 10 digs.
In Friday's other action, Millersville won both of its matches on day one. The Marauders defeated Saint Augustine's 25-11, 25-6, 25-13 as Katie Lesinski led a balanced attack with seven kills. Victoria Davis shared match-high honors with seven kills for Saint Augustine's.
Millersville followed with a 25-22, 25-19, 25-17 victory over UNC Pembroke. Kayla Wallace had five kills and five blocks for the Marauders, while Brooklyn Smith recorded a match-high 14 digs. Truesdale led all players with nine kills for UNC Pembroke and flirted with a triple-double with 10 assists and nine digs.
The two-day tournament concludes Saturday with five more matches. Mount Olive faces Saint Augustine's at 9 a.m. and Millersville at 1 p.m. Each team plays two matches Saturday.
