HICKORY, N.C. (Sept. 2) – In a Southeast Regional matchup, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss (25-13, 25-19, 25-19) against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday morning in the LR Volleyball Tournament.

With the loss, the Trojans fall to 1-2 following the season-opening tournament after playing three teams, all from different states. Mount Olive will host its home invitational this upcoming weekend with 10 combined matches scheduled in Kornegay Arena. Meanwhile, the Bears improves to 2-1 this season and holds a pair of victories over Conference Carolinas teams.

Senior Neza Pec led the UMO offense with nine kills while contributing 11 digs and two assists over three sets. Sophomore Kate Carter produced eight kills, three blocks, and three digs against the Bears. Junior Karoline Cox registered seven kills on a .385 hitting percentage, while teammate Ashlyn Stone totaled six kills, nine digs, and two blocks. Freshman Lyndsay Reid directed the offense with 18 assists and added eight digs on Saturday.

Senior Morgan Prots guided the defensive effort with 17 digs and tallied three assists in the match.

Lenoir-Rhyne delivered a dominant performance in the first set after recording 16 kills. The Bears leaped ahead by a 6-1 margin after producing five kills before UMO quickly cut the deficit to 7-5. LR responded with a 7-2 run to stretch the lead to 14-7, but the Trojans countered with three-straight points to trail by a 14-10 margin. The Bears closed on the opening set by scoring 11 of the final 14 points to post a 25-13 win.

In the second set, Lenoir-Rhyne grabbed another quick advantage with a 10-5 lead before Mount Olive chipped away at the deficit following kills from Cox and Pec to trail 13-11. The Bears tallied six of the next nine points to extend the lead to 18-13 before holding a 22-16 advantage late in the set. Both sides exchanged the final six points, as the LR claimed the second set, 25-19.

Lenoir-Rhyne sealed the sweep in the third set after registering 13 kills on a .314 clip. The Bears established an 11-6 advantage, including three service aces. The Trojans answered with an 8-3 rally to tied the third set at 14-14 following a kill by Carter. Both teams traded points down the stretch before Lenoir-Rhyne scored five-consecutive points to earn the win, 25-19.

The Trojans return to action on Friday, Sept. 8, when they face Shepherd and West Virginia State on the opening day of the Mount Olive Invitational at Kornegay Arena.