Mount Olive, N.C.-- The University of Mount Olive defeated Shaw University 3-2 in non-conference action on Tuesday night. The win puts the Trojans on a four-game win streak and a 5-1 record overall.
1st Set
The Trojans stepped out to an early lead 2-0 with kills from Ele'sia Williams and Ashlyn Stone. The Trojans fell behind 13-7 to the Bears until the UMO offense took over. Mount Olive won the next four points with three kills from Williams. UMO remained in control during the back half of the set only allowing the Bears to score three points. Kills from Starr Sergent, and Amara Eziakonwa led the Trojans to the first set win.
2nd Set
The Trojans and Bears went back and fourth until the Trojans grabbed five straight points with a kill from Alyssa Jackson and an ace from Karoline Cox. A pair of kills from Stone and Eziakonwa pulled the Trojans ahead 20-14. The Bears held a moment of momentum until the Trojans took a five-point run highlighted with a kill from Sergent. After battling back and forth with the Bears, UMO closed out the second set with three-straight points to win 25-19.
3rd Set
The Trojans fell behind in the beginning of the set until they were able to tie the game 10-10 with four-straight points from Williams and Stone. After a three-point run from Eziakonwa, the Trojans let Shaw take the third set 25-23.
4th Set
The Trojans came into the 4th set fired up jumping to an 6-4 lead with three kills from Williams, Sergent, and Eziakonwa. The Bears began a run of three points of their own, but was stopped by a UMO kill from Cox, and the Bears took set 25-2.
5th Set
The Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the Bears with a kill from Stone as well as an ace from Sergent. A pair of kills from Stone pulled the Trojans ahead 4-2. The Trojans kept control during the remaining points of the fifth set with Jenna Myer carrying the offense. Mount Olive held onto take the 5th set 15-9, and the match 3-2.
"Our girls are playing very well through 6 matches this season. We're resilient and learning to problem-solve and decision-making. Five set matches are great tests and with such a competitive conference, learning to play for that length of time is going to serve as well as we move into late September and October. This upcoming weekend will be a fun test, can't wait to see what we do." Says Coach Emma Celentano.
MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
Ele'sia Willliams led the Trojans with 18 kills.
Starr Sergant with two aces.
Amara Eziakonwa took home three blocks.
UP NEXT
The Trojans are back on the road for the FMU Invitational in Florence S.C. on September 17th-18th.