WILSON, N.C. (March 27) – Junior
Holden Maryott totaled nine kills and nine blocks, as the Trojans posted a 3-0 sweep at Barton on Wednesday night in Conference Carolinas play at Wilson Gymnasium.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team snaps a five-game skid and improves to 14-8 overall behind a 7-4 mark in conference action. The Trojans currently sit in a tie for third place in the conference standings with Erskine entering the final two weeks of the regular season. Meanwhile, Barton falls to 11-10 this season with a 5-6 mark in league play.
Senior
Hayden Frear produced a team-high 12 kills with three blocks and one ace, while Maryott tallied nine kills on a staggering .800 clip. Senior
Justin Gregory finished with eight kills, four blocks, and four digs over three sets played, while sophomore
Kory Grant delivered seven kills. Fellow sophomore
Jackson Lahey guided the offense with 38 assists, nine digs, and three blocks.
Defensively, sophomore
Mert Asma paced the team with 10 digs, while Maryott controlled the net with nine blocks.
The Bulldogs held a 5-2 advantage to begin the opening set before UMO responded with five unanswered points with a pair of kills by Gregory to take a 7-5 edge. Following a kill by Barton, the Trojans scored five of the following seven points to build a 12-8 lead. The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 14-13, but Mount Olive responded with a 5-1 run to hold a 19-14 advantage. With UMO ahead by a 23-19 margin, Barton scored six straight points to reach set point at 24-23. The Trojans rallied to score the final three points of the first set to win, 26-24.
In the second set, Mount Olive mounted an early 6-1 run to build a 10-6 advantage. Barton scored five of the next eight points to cut the deficit to 13-11 before UMO went on an 8-1 run to hold a significant 21-12 lead. The Bulldogs rallied to close the gap to 24-20 late in the set before a kill by senior
Tom Klotzbuecher sealed the win, 25-20.
Barton held the lead for the majority of the third set and established a 15-8 lead before Mount Olive rallied back with an 8-1 run to tie the contest at 16-16 with two kills by Frear. Following a service error, the Trojans scored seven consecutive points to take a 23-17 advantage. The teams traded the final four points, as Grant secured the victory on kill, 25-19.
The Trojans are idle for over a week before returning to Conference Carolinas play on Friday, April 5, when they travel to face Emmanuel at 7 p.m.
