WILSON, N.C. (Nov. 1) – Senior
Amara Eziakonwa registered a season-high 17 kills on a .484 clip, as the Trojans claimed a share of the Conference Carolinas Eastern Division Championship following a 3-1 victory at Barton on the final day of league play.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball program stretch its winning streak to 10-straight and improves to 22-8 this season with a 15-2 record in conference action. UMO secures its first regular season title since 2005, which was the last time the program eclipsed the 20-win mark. The Trojans earn the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and receive a bye to the quarterfinals, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 11, at 5 p.m., in Pembroke, North Carolina. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs fall to 8-16 overall behind a 7-10 mark in league play.
Eziakonwa led the team with 17 kills on a .484 hitting percentage and added two service aces and four blocks in the win. The Florida native closes the regular season by surpassing 400 points behind a team-leading 297 kills, 57 service aces, and 83 blocks. Sophomore
Neza Pec tallied her fifth kill/dig double-double of the year after recording 10 kills and 11 digs against the Bulldogs. Senior
Alyssa Jackson also delivered seven kills on a .462 clip on Tuesday. Fellow seniors
Madison Goodman and
Jenna Myer notched 21 and 15 assists, respectively.
Sophomore
Morgan Prots led the defensive effort with 23 digs, her 12th time this season totaling at least 20 digs. Goodman posted an assist/dig double-double after reaching double-figures with 11 digs. The Trojans controlled the net with 10 total blocks, led by Jackson with six and Eziakonwa with four blocks.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 advantage in the first after totaling a match-high 18 kills on a .395 hitting percentage. The opening set featured limited separation with the contest tied at 15-15 after both sides traded consecutive points. Barton rallied off an 8-2 run to take a comfortable 23-17 lead. The Trojans were unable to overcome the deficit, as the Bulldogs secured a 25-19 win.
In the second set, Mount Olive tied the match at 1-1 behind a team-high 17 kills. UMO managed to take a 13-7 lead following kills from five players. Barton answered by scoring six of the next nine points to cut the deficit to 16-13 before tying the match at 18-18 with a 5-2 rally. The Trojans reclaimed the advantage by tallying three of four points before a kill by the Bulldogs closed the gap to 21-20. UMO finished the set with a 4-1 run to claim the victory, 25-21.
The Trojans established a 2-1 advantage in the third set after taking a 15-10 lead following three-straight points. A service error halted the run before Mount Olive scored five of the following seven points to take a commanding 20-13 advantage. UMO closed out the third set with five-consecutive points with a pair of kills from Pec, 25-13.
Mount Olive sealed the victory in the fourth behind 11 kills on a team-high .310 clip. The Trojans jumped out to a 10-5 lead following a kill by Jackson. The Bulldogs stopped the run with a kill before Mount Olive used a 6-1 rally to take a 16-7 advantage. Barton countered by scoring four of the following six points to cut the deficit to 18-11. UMO claimed the win after a 7-2 run, which included three service aces by Myer, 25-13.
Mount Olive is idle for the next 10 days before returning to action on Friday, Nov. 11 in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Quarterfinals in Pembroke, North Carolina, with their opponent to be determined.
