MOUNT OLIVE (March 22) – In a battle between two of the top teams in the Conference Carolinas, the Trojans suffered a setback after falling by a 3-0 margin against Belmont Abbey on Friday night at Kornegay Arena.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball program drops a fourth consecutive match and falls to 13-7 overall behind a 6-3 record in conference action. The Crusaders sweep the season series over the Trojans while winning the previous four meetings between the sides. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey improves to 13-4 this season with an 8-1 mark in league play.
Senior
Justin Gregory led the Trojans with 12 kills on a .391 hitting percentage while adding four digs and one block in three sets played. Junior
Holden Maryott registered six kills on a .600 clip and sophomore
Constantinos Iacovou finished with five kills, two aces, and two blocks against the Crusaders. Fellow sophomore
Jackson Lahey directed the offense with 24 assists, four kills, two blocks, and eight digs.
On the defensive side, sophomore
Mert Asma paced the team with 11 digs, while Maryott controlled the net with three blocks.
In the first set, Belmont Abbey jumped ahead by a score of 9-5 before UMO scored three of the following four points with a pair of kills by Gregory to cut the deficit to 10-8. Belmont Abbey continued to build upon its lead and eventually held a 21-14 advantage after a service ace. Mount Olive responded with consecutive points before the Crusaders closed out the set with a 4-1 run, 25-17.
Mount Olive leaped out to a 7-5 advantage in the second set after a solo block by Lahey at the net. Belmont Abbey countered with five straight points to take a 10-7 lead before the Trojans trailed by a 15-13 margin after the sides alternated points. UMO closed the gap to 19-18 following a service ace by Iacovou, but the Crusaders tallied five of the next eight points to hold a 24-21 edge. Mount Olive recorded back-to-back points before Belmont Abbey won the set on a kill, 25-23.
Following early runs by both teams, the Trojans established a 7-6 lead before the teams exchanged the next four points. The Crusader managed to take a 10-9 edge, but UMO answered back with five of the following seven points to take a 14-12 advantage. Belmont Abbey tied the contest at 16-16 before the sides traded points down the stretch. Mount Olive reached set point twice, but the Crusaders battled back with three unanswered points to claim the third set, 27-25.
The Trojans will return to Conference Carolinas play tomorrow, Saturday, March 23, to face North Greenville on Senior Day at 2 p.m.
