PEMBROKE, N.C. (Oct. 4) – Senior
Ashlyn Stone surpassed 1,000 career kills after delivering a career-high 23 on Friday night, as the Trojans captured a 3-2 victory at UNC Pembroke in Conference Carolinas play.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball program improves to 7-6 overall with a 4-2 record in conference action. Additionally, UMO moves to 3-0 in divisional play with all three wins coming on the road. Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke drops to 4-9 this season behind a 1-2 mark in league play.
Stone joined exclusive company by reaching the 1,000-kill club on Friday following a stellar performance. She registered a game-high 23 kills, including five in the final set of the match. Stone also totaled 21 digs and two aces over five sets.
Senior
Callie Mullins contributed 15 kills on a .273 clip with two blocks and three digs. Sophomore
Rachel Clark finished with seven kills, two blocks, and four digs against the Braves. Senior
Karoline Cox and freshman
Olivia Melvin each tallied six kills. Junior
Breanna Tanton guided the offense with an assist/dig double-double with 43 assists and 15 digs while recording two service aces.
Stone directed the defense with 21 digs while freshman
Kacey Gore totaled 20 digs, seven assists, and one ace. Tanton finished with 15 digs and sophomore
Gracie Payne reached double-digits with 10.
In the first set, the Braves produced an effective offensive performance with 14 kills on a .571 hitting percentage. UNCP built a quick 10-5 advantage before the Trojans scored four of the following six points to trim the deficit to 11-8. UNC Pembroke eventually stretched the lead to 20-11 before the Trojans battled to close the gap with kills from three players. The Braves mounted a 5-1 run to seal the opening set by a 25-14 margin.
Both teams exchanged points through the initial points of the second set before Mount Olive totaled five of the next six points to take a 12-9 edge. UNCP countered with back-to-back points while the Trojans remained ahead by a score of 19-16 with a pair of kills from Clark. UMO finished the set with a 6-1 run to capture a 25-17 victory.
Mount Olive produced a dominant performance in the third set after recording 15 kills on a .310 clip. The Trojans quickly established a 14-4 advantage with a trio of kills from Cox and Stone. UNCP responded with consecutive points, but UMO scored six of the following eight points to hold a 20-8 lead. The Braves rallied to cut the deficit late in the set before a kill from Mullins secured the 25-14 win.
In the fourth set, Mount Olive raced out to an 8-3 edge before UNCP registered a 5-1 rally to close the gap, 9-8. With UMO ahead by a 14-11 margin, the Braves tallied seven of the following eight points to claim an 18-15 lead. The Trojans scored three unanswered to tie the contest at 18-18, but UNC Pembroke produced a 7-2 run to post a 25-20 victory.
Mount Olive held a 5-4 edge in the decisive fifth set before the Braves scored four of the next five points to take an 8-6 advantage. The match would be tied four separate times down the stretch before Stone registered three kills to seal the win, 15-13.
The Trojans return to Kornegay Arena tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 5, to face North Greenville in Conference Carolinas action at noon.
