AIKEN, S.C. - The Mount Olive women's volleyball team fell to the Eagles of Carson-Newman in straight sets in the final game of the USCA Invitational hosted by USC Aiken Saturday morning.

The Trojans went on a series of runs in the first set that swayed heavily in the beginning. UMO found themselves ahead 7-5 after a kill and block by Olivia Melvin (joined by Danielle Parker) and an attacking error by the Eagles.

Mount Olive held the lead for a little while until Carson-Newman took the lead on a 5-1 run, to go up 20-17 over the Trojans.

The Trojans responded with a kill by Melvin set up beautifully by Lydnsay Reid, followed by a service ace by Melvin, to put UMO down 20-17. It wasn't enough as the Eagles won set one 25-19.

In set two, the Eagles jumped out to an early 4-0 lead that turned into 10-4. The Trojans were unable to overcome such a hot start by the Eagles, losing set two 25-19.

Set three saw both teams battle for the lead, neither team taking more than a three-point lead over the other. The Trojans went on a crazy 8-1 run, to take the 16-13 lead over the Eagles; Ashlyn Haynie, Kaitlyn Landis, and Melvin each recorded kills in that sequence.

The Eagles tied it at 16-16, as both teams fought hard in the last few possessions of the set. A Melvin to Reid connection tied it again for the Trojans, 18-18, with a kill by Melvin from Tanton granting the Trojans an advantage.

 Kills by the Eagles and a few attacking errors by the Trojans, put C-N up 22-20. A service error gave UMO the point, to put the Trojans down 22-20. 

The Trojans scored on an attacking error by the Eagles, but unfortunately lost on a service ace and a kill. Mount Olive would fall in set three 25-21 to lose the match.

Melvin led the Trojans in kills with 12, followed by Rachel Clark who secured seven, and Landis who finished with four. Landis, Clark, and Melvin had a block party as well, totaling seven of the teams' eight block assists.

Sheaffer, the teams' leader in digs, collected nine, with Reid and Tanton, following closely behind with eight.

Mount Olive continues on the road in their next contest, taking a trip to Murfreesboro on Tuesday to face Chowan to open conference play.