Aiken, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to wrap up the USC Aiken Invitational.

GAME 1 INFORMATION
Score:  Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Mount Olive 1 (25-19), (22-25), (25-10), (25-16) 
Records: Mount Olive 4-3 (0-0); Lenoir-Rhyne 2-5 (0-0 PB)
Location: USC Aiken Convocations Center (Court 2)

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

FIRST SET

• Mount Olive struggled early on, as Lenoir-Rhyne opened the match on an 11-2 run.
• UMO tried to cut into the Bears' advantage but only got within 11-6 before LRU pulled away to win the set.

SECOND SET

• The Trojans reversed their fortune by taking control of the set with an 11-6 lead.
• Despite struggling to hold leads in previous sets, UMO maintained its lead and never relented in the 25-22 set win.

THIRD SET

• Long runs continued to doom the Trojans, as Lenoir-Rhyne opened up an 18-6 advantage on Mount Olive.
• UMO did not go quietly as the Trojans responded with a 3-0 run to cut into the Bears' lead.
• LRU then mounted a 7-1 run to end the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

FOURTH SET

• Lenoir-Rhyne again took control early in the set but had to fend off resistance by UMO.
• Led by juniors Mi'Kayla Benson and Mackenzie Call, the Trojans kept pace with the Bears, trailing just 8-7.
• LRU once again found a response, running out to a 19-9 lead before taking the set and the match with a 25-16 win.

KEY STATS

• Benson led the Trojans with a personal season-high 18 kills and a .364 hitting percentage.
• Freshman Kamber Skeen led UMO with a double-double of 28 assists and 12 digs.
• Junior Casey Fiechter compiled 16 digs to lead Mount Olive.
• Call added five kills and 15 digs.

GAME 2 INFORMATION
Score:  Lander 3, Mount Olive 0 (25-17), (25-18), (25-14)
Records: Mount Olive 4-4 (0-0); Lander 8-0 (0-0 PB)
Location: USC Aiken Convocations Center (Court 2)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Play-by-Play

FIRST SET

• Benson continued to lead the way for the Trojans, as she amassed four kills in the first frame.
• Mount Olive fell behind early but surged within four at 19-15 before Lander used a 4-0 run to pull away for good. 

SECOND SET

• Mount Olive looked to have changed momentum by grabbing a 10-5 lead, but Lander roared right back with a 6-0 run to take an 11-10 advantage.
• After taking the lead, the Bearcats would not relent, jumping out to a 19-15 lead in route to a 25-18 set win.

THIRD SET

• Lander came out as the aggressors, but Mount Olive stormed back to tie the set 12-12 on three-straight service aces by Fiechter.
• The Trojans could not maintain their lead, as the Bearcats went on an 8-1 run to open up a sizeable lead and earn the three-set sweep.

KEY STATS

• Freshman Natalie Perez finished with seven kills to lead UMO.
• Benson added six kills for the Trojans.

UP NEXT
The Trojans open Conference Carolinas play September 16 and 17 at Kornegay Arena against Erskine College and Emmanuel College.