Third-seeded Mount Olive fought off one match point, but a service violation on the Trojans' next serve ended the match and the season with a 25-22, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23 loss to No. 6 seed Limestone in the opening round of the 2013 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Tournament Saturday at Kornegay Arena. The Trojans end their season with a record of 14-16.

In their final collegiate match, Carly White recorded 15 kills and Nicole Sparks had 19 digs. The match also marked the career finale for fellow seniors Charnel Austin, Lauren Lee and Nicole Powell.

"It was a tough way to end the season, but I'm so proud of the girls for what they've accomplished," said second-year Trojan head coach Sarah Lusk. "I couldn't have asked any more of them."

Mount Olive trailed 18-13 in the fourth set before rallying on Dezirae Mackey's kill and back-to-back kills by White off of Mackey's serve. Limestone setter Elayna Meachum's kill capped a wild point set up by a back-row dig to give the Saints a 19-16 lead. Mount Olive pulled within 22-21 after another kill by White and Sarah Robertson's left-handed cross-court kill from the right side.

After the two teams traded side outs, Reagan Youngs kill gave Limestone a 24-22 lead and set up Erin Courtenay to serve for match point. Courtenay served four consecutive aces during one stretch in the match and Limestone appeared to have the win on an attack attempt, but Sparks dig in the back row kept the point and the match alive. Mackey finished the point for her eighth kill of the match to keep the season alive and return serve to Mount Olive.

After a Limestone timeout, Mount Olive served the ball in play, but the up official immediately whistled the Trojans for a service violation, giving the Saints the point and the match.

Mount Olive dropped the opening set and trailed 21-19 in the second set before Robertson and freshmen Montgomery Register Alysha Tyms-Burnett combined for all of the Trojans' next six points. Robertson had a kill for a side out and Lee's serve set up a kill by Register on an overpass to tie the set 21-21. Tyms-Burnett broke the tie and combined with Register for a block on the next point. Register followed with a solo block and give the Trojans a 24-21 lead. Limestone ended the run on Jessica Onken's kill, but Robertson put home a kill on set point to even the match at a set apiece.

A kill and a block by Mackey helped stake Mount Olive to a 5-2 lead in the third set, but Limestone (13-15) used Courtenay's four-ace spurt Youngs' kill on an overpass during a 6-0 run to take the lead. The set was tied seven times before Nikki Eno's kill broke a 15-15 tie and Limestone took the lead for good. Mount Olive trailed 17-16 when Limestone broke the set open with seven unanswered points as the Saints took a 2-1 lead in sets.

Mount Olive jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the fourth set Nicole Karas served an ace and Sparks recorded a kill from her libero position. But three aces by Onken highlighted a 7-0 Limestone run and the Saints withstood the Trojans' comeback to lead the remainder of the set and win the match.

Tyms-Burnett finished with 10 kills for Mount Olive, while Mackey had eight kills and Robertson added seven kills. Karas nearly recorded her first collegiate triple-double with 35 assists, 15 digs and a career-high seven kills. Jordan Barnes added 12 digs and shared team-high honors with Lee with two aces. Mackey, Register and Tyms-Burnett tallied three blocks apiece.

Courtenay shared match-high honors with 15 kills for Limestone, while Youngs added 11 kills. Rebecca Kennison had a match-high 23 digs and Eno led all players with six blocks. Meachum tallied 34 assists and 13 digs, while Onken also had 13 digs to go with eight kills.

After the match, Lusk praised her five Trojan seniors for their work in building future success.

"Our seniors have gone through so much during their career and have brought the program so far forward," said Lusk. "They've built a great foundation for the future. I feel that the Trojan women's volleyball program is on the rise and the seniors will always be a part of any future success."