MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 23) – The trio of senior
Ashlyn Stone, senior
Callie Mullins, and freshman
Olivia Melvin combined for 47 kills, as the Trojans captured a significant 3-1 win over UNC Pembroke in Conference Carolinas divisional play at Kornegay Arena on Wednesday night.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team secures an eighth-straight victory to improve to 13-6 overall with a 10-2 record in conference action. The Trojans hold a 5-0 mark in the east division with six conference matches left in the regular season. Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke drops to 9-13 this season behind a 6-4 record in league play.
Stone tied a game-high 17 kills on a .302 hitting percentage while adding 19 digs and two service aces. She has now totaled 11 kill/dig double-doubles this season and continues to pace the Conference Carolinas in kills (269) and points (313). Mullins also recorded a game-high 17 kills with two blocks, and four digs against the Braves on Wednesday. Melvin totaled 13 kills on a .367 clip, adding five digs over four sets played. Sophomore
Lyndsay Reid led the offensive effort with 29 assists, one ace, and 12 digs, while junior
Breanna Tanton tallied 18 assists, one ace, and eight digs.
Freshman
Kacey Gore matched her season-high with 24 digs while adding seven assists in the match.
UNC Pembroke managed to build an early 7-3 advantage in the first set before UMO slowly trimmed the deficit to 13-12 behind four kills from Stone. The Braves answered by scoring five of the following seven points to hold an 18-14 edge, but Mount Olive mounted an 8-1 run to claim a 20-18 lead. The Trojan ultimately sealed the first set by a 25-21 margin with Mullins delivering a pair of kills.
In the second set, UNCP established another early lead at 8-7 before Mount Olive responded with a 7-1 rally to take a 14-9 advantage after capitalizing on four errors by the Braves. The Trojans would stretch the lead to 18-11, but UNC Pembroke remained at a striking distance with a 4-1 rally, 19-15. UMO closed out the set with a 25-19 win behind a kill from sophomore
Kaitlyn Landis.
The third set was incredibly competitive on both sides as 10 ties and five lead changes took place. UMO raced out to a 9-4 lead before the Braves countered with an 8-1 rally to grab a 12-10 edge. With UNCP ahead by a 15-12 margin, the Trojans scored six of the next seven points to regain a 17-15 advantage. A total of seven ties happened in the closing points of the match as back-to-back kills delivered a 25-23 victory to UNC Pembroke.
In the fourth, the Braves held momentum and built a 10-8 lead before Mount Olive responded with a 6-1 run to take a 14-11 edge as four different players recorded a kill. The Trojans continued to hold the advantage late in the fourth at 22-16, but UNCP closed the gap to 23-20 following a 4-1 rally. UMO captured the win after Melvin and Stone produced kills to win by a score of 25-20.
The Trojans continue league action on Saturday, Oct. 26, when they face Chowan on Senior Day, starting at 1 p.m.
