MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 14) – Behind a balanced offensive attack, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team registered a 3-0 sweep over Belmont Abbey on Friday night in Conference Carolinas action at Kornegay Arena.

With the win, the Trojans improve to 13-8 this season with a 6-2 record in league play. Mount Olive remains in second place in the east division standings. Meanwhile, the Crusaders fall to 5-19 overall behind a 3-7 mark in conference action.

Senior Amara Eziakonwa and sophomore Ashlyn Stone tied for the team lead with seven kills, as both players hit over a .300 hitting percentage. Senior Camryn Huber totaled six kills on a .375 clip and posted three blocks on Friday. Senior Madison Goodman guided the offense with 15 assists and sophomore Tarah Guntow added 13 assists in the win.

Sophomore Morgan Prots led the defensive effort with 12 digs and fellow sophomore Neza Pec notched 11 digs in the match. The Trojans recorded 10 service aces with Prots and Pec tallying three aces. Huber controlled the net with three blocks, while Eziakonwa and senior Alyssa Jackson registered two blocks.

In the first, Mount Olive established a 1-0 lead after totaling 12 kills in the opening set. The Trojans raced out to an early 10-5 advantage behind a pair of kills by Huber. Following a Belmont Abbey service error, UMO went on a 5-1 run to stretch the lead to 15-7. The Crusaders closed the gap by scoring three of the following four points before Mount Olive notched five-consecutive points, 21-10. Belmont Abbey trimmed the deficit to 24-16 behind a pair of 3-0 run before the Trojans won the first set, 25-16.

UMO claimed a 2-0 advantage in the second set behind 10 kills on a .318 clip. The Trojans took another early lead at 9-4 before the Crusaders cut the deficit with four-straight points, 9-8. Mount Olive would rally off five of the following seven points to take a 15-9 advantage before both teams traded the next three points. UMO finished the second set with a 9-0 run, including an pair of aces from Pec, to win by a 25-11 margin.

The Trojans secured the victory in the third set by a score of 25-13 after 12 kills on a .313 hitting percentage. Mount Olive worked the lead to 10-3 before the Crusaders rallied with a 4-0 run, 10-7. UMO countered with an 11-2 run to extend the lead to 21-9 after four different players registered kills. Both sides exchanged the next eight points, and Pec sealed the win with a kill, 25-13.

UMO returns to conference play, tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 15, when they host division leader UNC Pembroke at 5:30 p.m.