BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 26) – A historic season for the University of Mount Olive men's volleyball program came to a heartbreaking conclusion on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 1 seeded Trojans were upset by No. 2 Belmont Abbey in a 3-0 loss in the Conference Carolinas Championship match.
Final Score: Belmont Abbey 3, (18-25, 23-25, 22-25), Mount Olive 0
Records: Belmont Abbey (17-8), Mount Olive (20-4)
Location: Student Center Complex I Bristol, Tenn.
HISTORIC SEASON:
- The Trojans reached the 20-win mark for just the third time, while posting the best winning percentage (.833) in program history.
- Mount Olive achieved the first-ever undefeated Conference Carolinas regular season with a 14-0 record while dropping just two sets in league play in the entire season.
- UMO debuted and remained in the AVCA National Rankings for four-straight weeks at #20.
TROJAN PERFORMANCES:
- As a team, the Trojans were held to a season-low hitting percentage of .124 while being limited to just one service ace and five total blocks over three sets play.
- Junior Kory Grant led the team with 13 kills, adding a team-best seven digs and one block.
- Senior Tate Sandvig finished with double-digit kills at 10 while tallying six digs in his final match.
- Senior Holden Maryott contributed six kills in the middle with three blocks and two digs.
- Junior Jackson Lahey guided the offense with 28 assists, three blocks, two kills, and four digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first set, the sides exchanged points during the opening portion before the Trojans established an 8-7 advantage following a pair of errors by the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey responded with a 9-2 rally to take control of the first set by a 16-10 margin. Mount Olive was unable to close the deficit closer than four points, as the Crusader ultimately took for first set by a 25-18 margin.
- UMO and Belmont Abbey played a tightly-contest second set with the Trojans establishing the largest-lead to that point at 19-17 after a block at the net by Grant and Maryott. The Crusaders found an answer with three-straight points to flip the script in their favor, 20-19. UMO was able to tie the contest at 20-20, but the momentum shift carried BAC to a 25-23 win.
- In the final set, Belmont Abbey managed to establish a 12-9 lead following a 5-1 run and took the advantage late into the third. With BAC ahead by a 23-17 margin, the Trojans fought back with five unanswered points to trim the deficit to 23-22. The Crusaders would score back-to-back points to seal the sweep. 25-22.
