MURFREESBORO, N.C. (Sept. 25) – In the first divisional match of the season, the University of Mount Olive women's volleyball program delivered a 3-0 sweep at Chowan on Wednesday night in Conference Carolinas action.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 5-5 this season behind a 2-1 mark in league play. Mount Olive has claimed five of the previous six matches in the series, including three sweeps over Chowan. Meanwhile, the Hawks drop to 2-8 overall with a 0-3 record in conference play under first-year head coach and former UMO alumni Kellan Hollingsworth.
Senior
Ashlyn Stone reached double-digit kills with 12 while adding two services aces and four digs in three sets played. Sophomore
Kaitlyn Landis contributed nine kills, five aces, and three digs against the Hawks. Freshman
Olivia Melvin finished with eight kills on a .278 clip while senior
Breanna Reisinger totaled six kills. Junior
Breanna Tanton directed the offense with 17 assists and sophomore
Lyndsay Reid tallied 13 assists in the sweep.
Freshman
Kacey Gore guided the defensive effort with nine digs while sophomore
Gracie Payne recorded six digs. The Trojans matched a season-high with 14 service aces in the match, as Landis and senior
Karoline Cox combined for 10.
Chowan built a solid 9-4 advantage in the opening set before UMO countered with back-to-back points to cut into the deficit. The Hawks scored six of the following seven points to stretch the lead to 15-7, but the Trojans responded with five unanswered points, 15-12. Two sides exchanged points late in the set before Mount Olive captured the lead with a 4-0 rally, 22-21. Chowan tied the contest on the next point before UMO scored three straight to seal the set, 25-22.
In the second set, the Trojans established a 9-7 lead before scoring five consecutive points behind a pair of kills by Stone to hold a 14-7 advantage. The Hawks answered with a 10-2 rally and tallied five of the next eight points to grab a 22-19 edge. Mount Olive registered four unanswered points following a trio of aces by Cox before winning the set, 25-23.
After a 5-5 tie early in the third set, UMO managed to build an 11-8 edge before Chowan battled back to knot the match at 12-12. Three service aces and kills from three different players would allow the Trojans to take a 21-16 lead late in the set. The Hawks scored consecutive points to close the gap, but Mount Olive secured the sweep with four straight points 25-18.
UMO returns to Kornegay Arena on Saturday, Sept. 28, to face Shorter in league action at 2 p.m.
