MOUNT OLIVE (Sept. 22) – After tallying 44 kills and eight service aces, the University of Mount Olive volleyball team captured a 3-0 victory over Erskine on Friday night at Kornegay Arena in Conference Carolinas action.

With the win, the Trojans claim their third-straight win and second sweep of the year to improve to 8-5 this season with a 2-0 mark in league play. UMO has won the last four meetings in the series and is preparing to take on conference newcomer Young Harris tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the Flying Fleet falls to 1-10 overall behind a 1-2 record in conference action.

Juniors Ashlyn Stone and Callie Mullins tied for the team lead with nine kills, hitting over a .300 percentage against Erskine. Senior Neza Pec registered seven kills on a .375 clip while tallying 16 digs and two aces over three sets. Fellow senior Jenna Myer directed the offense with 21 assists and freshman Lyndsay Reid recorded her fifth assist/dig double-double (16 assists/13 digs).

On the defensive side, Pec and Reid combined to lead the defensive effort while senior Morgan Prots produced 11 digs in the win. The Trojans delivered eight aces in the match, led by junior Karoline Cox with five.

In the opening set, Mount Olive quickly claimed a 6-1 advantage behind three service aces by Cox before the Flying Fleet answered back with three consecutive points, 6-4. The sides remained within three points before UMO scored six of the following eight points to build a 17-12 lead. After exchanging points down the set's final stretch, Erskine closed the gap to 24-20, but Mount Olive sealed the win with a kill by Cox, 25-20.

The Trojans established a 5-4 advantage to begin the second set before mounting a 5-1 run to take a 10-5 lead. Mount Olive eventually extended the advantage to 17-9 before the Flying Fleet countered with four straight points to cut the deficit to 17-13. UMO continued to retain the lead over the final points before using a 6-2 run to take the set by a 25-17 margin.

Erskine managed to hold a 9-7 lead to open the third set before the Trojans scored three unanswered points to take a 10-9 advantage. The Flying Fleet promptly tied the contest on the following point, but UMO responded with an 8-3 rally with kills from five players to stretch the lead to 18-13. Erskine rallied back to trim the deficit to 21-18 before Mount Olive scored four of the final six points to earn the win, 25-20.

The Trojans return to the court tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, to face Young Harris in league play at Kornegay Arena at 1 p.m.