WILSON, North Carolina- The University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team defeated the Bulldogs of Barton College 3-2 in the final game of the regular season Tuesday evening inside Wilson Gymnasium. The Trojans improve to 12-3, 11-2 and Barton falls to 9-9, 7-6.
GAME INFORMATION
Mount Olive fell behind from the start as Barton held a small 12-8 lead. The Trojans only managed to draw to within three as BC took the opening set 25-21.
The second set was a different tail as UMO took the lead 10-8. Barton went onto tie the set at 10, and the second set was tied four more times before the Trojans put a stop to it. An attack error gave UMO the 18-17 lead and Mount Olive went onto continue a 7-to-1 run and jump out to a 23-18 advantage. UMO held off a late Bulldog attack and took the set 25-21.
The third set was all Barton as they came out to a 13-9 lead that expanded to their largest lead of 21-15. UMO went point-for-point at the end but could not overcome the deficit and fell 25-22.
The fourth set saw UMO hold once again a slim lead 11-8 at the start. Barton gained the lead at 15-13, however, the Trojans used a four point run to regain the lead at 18-16. Mount Olive never gave up the lead and took the set 25-22 forcing a deciding fifth set.
The final set had the two teams square for the first eight points until Barton won three out of the next four points to take 7-5 lead. The set became tied at 11 and would three more times before a victor was decided as UMO ended the match with three straight kills to win the set 16-14 and the match 3-2.
Mount Olive Leaders
The Trojans were led by Tobi Azeez with 33 kills. Jarrod Ferguson added 55 assists.
Barton Leaders
The Bulldogs were led by Absalon Williams with 17 kills.
Up Next
Mount Olive won the Conference Carolinas Regular-Season Championship earlier in the season and will now be the #1 seed in the Men's Volleyball Conference Carolinas Championship. The Trojans have a bye to the semifinals to be played on April 17, in Bristol, Tenn. at King University, the host school for the championship.
