MOUNT OLIVE (April 11) – After tallying 44 kills on a .398 hitting percentage, the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team closed out the regular season with a 3-0 sweep over rival Barton on Thursday night at Kornegay Arena in Conference Carolinas action.
With the win, the Trojans secure the No. 4 seed in the upcoming league tournament and improve to 16-9 this season with a 9-5 record in conference play. The Trojans will return to the court on Tuesday, April 16, for a rematch against Barton in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs drop to 12-12 overall behind a 6-8 mark in league action.
Senior
Justin Gregory led the team with 13 kills on a .545 clip while adding three service aces, two blocks, and three digs. Fellow senior
Hayden Frear finished with 11 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, while senior
Tom Klotzbuecher registered nine kills on a .300 clip with eight digs and two blocks. Sophomore
Jackson Lahey directed the offense with 40 assists while totaling one ace, four blocks, and two digs.
Senior
Chance Gallardo and Klotzbuecher led the defensive effort with eight digs while junior
Holden Maryott controlled the net with six blocks (two solo) against the Bulldogs.
With little separation through the opening points of the first set, the Trojans recorded three unanswered points to take an 11-8 advantage before Barton rallied to take a 15-14 edge. After exchanging the next six points, UMO regained the lead at 20-19 but the Bulldogs quickly scored consecutive points to hold a 21-20 lead. Trailing 23-22, Mount Olive scored three straight points, all via blocks at the net, to take the set, 25-23.
In the second set, the Trojans built an early 10-7 advantage following a pair of kills by freshman
Matthew Ekberg. Barton responded by closing the gap to 12-11 before UMO mounted a 7-2 run to take a 19-13 lead. The Bulldogs managed to trim the deficit to 22-18, but Mount Olive tallied three of the final four points, including two kills by Klotzbuecher, to win the set, 25-19.
UMO jumped ahead in the opening points of the third set before Barton cut the deficit to 10-9. The Trojans scored five unanswered points to hold a 15-9 advantage, but the Bulldogs slowly closed the gap to 21-20 late in the third. Mount Olive went on to score four of the next six points to complete the sweep, 25-22.
Mount Olive returns to the court on Tuesday, April 16, when they face Barton in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Championship at Kornegay Arena, starting at 7 p.m.
