MOUNT OLIVE (Nov. 6) – In the East Division regular season title match, the Trojans fell by a 3-1 margin versus UNC Pembroke on Monday night at Kornegay Arena in Conference Carolinas action.

With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team drops to 20-10 this season with a 14-3 mark in league play. UMO suffers its first home conference loss since Oct. 9, 2021, after previously winning 23-straight at Kornegay Arena. Despite the loss, the Trojans still secured the No. 1 seed in the league tournament and a bye to the semifinals. Meanwhile, UNCP completes the regular season sweep and improves to 18-13 overall with a 12-5 record in conference action.

Junior Ashlyn Stone led the Trojans with 11 kills and added eight digs in the match. Fellow junior Karoline Cox reached double figures with 10 kills while contributing three blocks and seven digs. Senior Neza Pec registered a kill/dig double-double with 10 kills on a .320 clip with 15 digs and two blocks. Senior Jenna Myer led the offense with 23 assists and four digs, while freshman Lyndsay Reid recorded her 12th assist/dig double-double of the year after totaling 15 assists, 11 digs, and four aces against the Braves.

Senior libero Morgan Prots directed the defensive effort with 21 digs and three assists.

In the opening set, the Trojans quickly took a 7-1 advantage behind a pair of kills from Cox. UNC Pembroke slowly chipped away at the deficit before eventually trailing 17-15. The Braves grabbed the lead after scoring three unanswered points, but UMO answered back with a 3-0 run to regain the lead, 20-18. After exchanging the next five points, the Trojans totaled three consecutive points to win the set, 25-21.

UNCP mounted an 8-1 run early in the second set to take a 9-4 advantage before UMO rallied to tie the contest at 12-12. Mount Olive scored three of the following five points to take a 15-14 lead before the Braves countered with six straight points, 20-15. The Trojans responded with back-to-back points, but UNC Pembroke registered five of the final seven points to secure the set, 25-19.

During the early points of the set, the contest was tied six times before the Braves mounted a 6-1 run to establish a 14-9 advantage. UNCP remained ahead late in the set, as Mount Olive scored three unanswered points to trim the deficit to 20-15. UMO eventually worked the lead down to 23-19 before UNC Pembroke tallied two of the last three points to win the set, 25-20.

Mount Olive managed to build a 9-5 advantage in the fourth set after three kills from sophomore Kate Carter. UNCP cut the deficit to 12-10 before UMO recorded consecutive points to stretch the lead to 14-10. Later in the set, the Trojans were ahead by an 18-15 margin before the Braves went on a 7-2 run to claim the lead, 22-20. UNC Pembroke held onto the momentum to win the East Division and seal the win, 25-22.

The Trojans claimed the No. 1 seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament and received a bye directly to the semifinals scheduled for Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. in North Charleston, South Carolina.