MOUNT OLIVE (March 23) – Sophomore
Kory Grant and senior
Hayden Frear totaled 25 kills, as the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action on Senior Day.
With the loss, the Trojans fall to 13-8 this season with a 6-4 mark in conference action. North Greenville swept the season series while UMO sits fourth in the league standings following this weekend. Meanwhile, the Crusaders improve to 9-8 overall behind a 7-3 mark in conference play.
Grant posted a team-leading 13 kills on a .286 hitting percentage while adding two blocks and five digs in four sets played. Frear delivered 12 kills, three blocks, and 13 digs against NGU. Senior
Tom Klotzbuecher finished with nine kills, one ace, two blocks, and five digs, while fellow senior
Justin Gregory totaled seven kills, four blocks, and six digs. Sophomore
Jackson Lahey guided the offense with 42 assists while adding two aces, five blocks, and nine digs.
On the defensive side, Frear led the team with 13 digs and freshman
Maksim Kazanov controlled the net with nine blocks.
In the first set, Mount Olive leaped ahead by a 7-2 margin before scoring six of the following seven points to take a 13-3 advantage behind a pair of kills by junior
Holden Maryott. The teams exchanged points down the stretch, as the Trojans built a 20-9 lead after consecutive kills. The Crusaders worked the deficit down to 23-15 before UMO scored back-to-back points to clinch the first set, 25-15.
The Trojans climbed in front by an 11-6 margin in the second set with four different players recording a kill. NGU answered back with four straight points to close the gap before UMO scored three of the next four points to hold a 14-11 advantage. The Crusaders mounted a 9-2 rally to gain the lead by a 20-16 edge, but UMO trimmed the deficit to 23-20. North Greenville tied the contest after tallying the final two points to take the set, 25-20.
Mount Olive established another early lead in the third set by a score of 11-6 before NGU rallied to tie the contest at 15-15. The Trojans totaled six of the following nine points to reclaim a 20-17 advantage before producing three straight points to grab a 23-18 edge. The Crusaders managed to cut the deficit to 24-22, but a serve error handed the third set to UMO, 25-22.
The sides alternated points a majority of the fourth set, as North Greenville held a 20-18 advantage late in the fourth. Mount Olive responded with three unanswered points to take a 21-20 edge before the Crusaders rallied with four straight points to take a 24-21 lead. UMO countered with back-to-back points to narrow the gap to 24-23, but NGU escaped with a 25-23 win.
In the final set, North Greenville raced ahead by a 7-4 margin before scoring three straight points to take a 10-4 lead. Mount Olive managed to trim the deficit to 11-7 following a trio of kills before NGU grabbed a 14-7 advantage to reach set point. The Trojans scored consecutive points before the Crusaders delivered a kill to seal the win, 15-9.
Mount Olive returns to action on Wednesday, March 27, when it travels to face Barton in Conference Carolinas action at 7 p.m.
