MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - The Trojans hosted Converse College Saturday afternoon in the Pool Play round of the Conference Carolinas Championship. The Trojans defeated the Valkyries in four sets.

GAME INFORMATION
Set one began with both teams exchanging points. Neither team could find any momentum until the Valkyries scored six unanswered points, going up 17-11. The Trojans scored three of the next seven points, bringing the score to 21-14, Valkyries. The Trojans rattled off four points in a row, but fell short in set one, 25-19. 

Set two saw the Valkyries jump out to a 15-6 lead, early. Not wanting to fall too far behind, the Trojans responded by scoring seven points in a row, sparked by a kill from Starr Sergent, cutting the Trojans deficit to just two, 15-13. The Trojans gained the lead late in set two when Amara Eziakonwa blocked an attempted kill, putting the Trojans up 20-19. Not falling under pressure, the Valkyries answered with three straight points, retaking the lead, 22-20. The Trojans answered back with five straight points, with match point coming off a kill from Eziakonwa. Trojans, 25-22. 

The third set began similar to the first two, back and forth action. Starting with a kill, then followed by three service aces, the Valkyries took an 11-7 lead. The Trojans scored two out of the next three points, including a kill from Alyssa Jackson, to bring themselves to within three of the lead, 12-9. Converse answered back by scoring three unanswered points, extending their lead to six, 15-9. After exchanging points, the Trojans found themselves down just one, 22-21. After a kill from the Valkyries, the Trojans took the lead, 24-23, off the back of two kills from Nafsika Papavasileiou and another from Sergent. An attack error would give the Valkyries the lead back, 25-24, but the Trojans scored four of the remaining five points to take set three, 28-26, and go up in the match, 2-1. 

Set three saw the Trojans extend their lead to six, 17-11, after four straight points. Over the next seven points the Trojans extended their lead to seven, 21-14. The Trojans kept their foot on the gas, reaching match point, 24-16. Facing the end of their season, the Valkyries pulled off an improbable seven points in a row, bringing themselves to within just one of the lead, 24-23. Reeling after surrendering seven unanswered points, the Trojans didn't waver. Camryn Huber smacked down a kill to take set four, 25-23, and the match, 3-1. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment came in set three. Trailing through the early portions of the set, the Trojans battled their way back to being down just one. The Trojans went on to win the set, 28-26 and go up in the match, 2-1. 

TROJANS LEADERS
Starr Sergent collected sixteen kills for the Trojans. 

VALKYRIES LEADERS
Brittany Tepedino led the way for Converse, finishing with fifteen kills.

UP NEXT
With their win today the Trojans punched their ticket to the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Championship. They will play next Saturday, April 17th.