FRANKLIN SPRINGS (March 1) – Senior Holden Maryott eclipsed 200 career blocks on Saturday, as the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball program took care of business against Emmanuel in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-17) at the Shaw Athletic Center.
With the win, the Trojans extend their winning streak to nine straight and improve to 11-2 overall behind a perfect 6-0 record in league action. Mount Olive will have almost two weeks off until its next match against North Greenville in front of a rowdy home crowd at Kornegay Arena. Meanwhile, Emmanuel drops a 13th consecutive match to fall to 1-16 on the year with a 0-7 mark in conference play.
Maryott becomes just the seventh player in program history to reach 200 career blocks while also ranking seventh all-time for the Trojans with 37 solo blocks.
Junior Kory Grant had another impressive offense outing with 14 kills on a .600 hitting percentage while adding four digs. Senior Blake Hosic found himself playing on both sides of the ball as he collected seven digs in the contest along with six kills and two service aces. Maryott contributed six kills and five blocks in the win, while junior Constantinos Iacovou on a .455 clip picked up six kills and two aces. Junior Jackson Lahey collected 30 assists on the afternoon with four blocks, three service aces, and three digs.
Freshman libero Luca Colombo was solid as the defensive player after recording 10 digs with a pair of assists.
The first of only three sets on the match down in Franklin Springs, Georgia, saw the Trojans open up to a 12-5 lead after three straight blocks at the net. The two programs would exchange the next 12 points before the Lions closed the gap to 20-16. UMO created more separation eventually taking the set by a 25-18 margin.
In the second set, the Trojans once again established a quick advantage after an 11-4 start. Mount Olive climbed the lead to 17-8 behind a pair of kills by Maryott before the sides exchanged points down the stretch. A service ace from Lahey wrapped up the second set in favor of the Trojans, 25-16.
Emmanuel managed to take a slight 7-6 advantage in the third set before UMO countered with five unanswered points to jump ahead 11-7. The Lions battled back to close the gap to 14-13, but the Trojans pulled away late with six straight points to eventually seal the sweep, 25-17.
Mount Olive extends the streak to 25 straight sets won during its nine-game winning streak.
The Trojans will be idle for two weeks before returning to the court on Friday, March 14, against North Greenville at 7 p.m.
