SALISBURY, N.C. (Feb. 4) – Junior
Kory Grant and senior
Tate Sandvig combined for 23 kills, as the Trojans captured a 3-0 sweep on Tuesday night at Catawba in a non-conference match.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball program improves to 4-2 this season while playing five of its initial six matches on the road. It marked the first meeting between the sides, as Catawba is a first-year program. Meanwhile, Catawba falls to 4-5 overall behind a 3-3 record against Conference Carolina opponents.
Grant led the Trojans with 12 kills on a .321 hitting percentage with one block and four digs. Sandvig reached double-figures with 11 kills on a staggering .566 clip while adding two assists, one block, and six digs. Senior
Holden Maryott finished with seven kills, one service ace, four blocks (two solo), and two digs. Junior
Jackson Lahey directed the offensive effort with 35 assists, three kills, two blocks, one ace, and three digs.
Freshman
Luca Colombo led the defense with 11 digs, the third time he reached double-digit digs this season.
In the first set, the Trojans totaled 17 kills on an impressive .615 hitting percentage with just one attacking error. Mount Olive built an early 9-7 lead in the opening set behind a trio of kills by Grant before Catawba rallied to tie the contest at 15-15. UMO responded with three unanswered points before scoring three of the next five points to hold a 21-17 edge. With the Trojans ahead 22-19, Mount Olive registered back-to-back blocks and a kill by senior
Blake Hosic to take the first set, 25-20.
Catawba established a 7-5 advantage in the second set, but UMO countered with four consecutive points, including a pair of kills by Grant, to go ahead 9-7. Catawba rallied to tie the set at 11-11 before Mount Olive scored five straight points to lead by a 16-11 margin. With UMO leading 18-17, the Trojans scored seven of the final 12 points to claim a 25-22 victory.
In the third set, Mount Olive held a slight 8-7 edge before Catawba rallied with a 5-1 run to take a 12-9 advantage. The Trojans jumped back in front by a 14-13 margin, but Catawba countered with three straight points to regain a 16-14 lead. UMO answered with an 8-1 run to build a 22-17 edge before eventually sealing the sweep by a final score of 25-21.
The Trojans return to Kornegay Arena on Friday, Feb. 7, to face King in the Conference Carolinas opener, starting at 7 p.m.
