MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team battled North Greenville through five sets Friday night at Kornegay Arena before falling 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 15-12) in Conference Carolinas action. The match also served as the Trojans' Pink Dig Match in support of the Side-Out Foundation and its efforts to raise awareness for metastatic breast cancer.
Mount Olive opened the match with a strong performance in the first set, taking a 25-19 victory behind an efficient offensive attack. The Trojans recorded 16 kills in the frame, led by Olivia Melvin, who finished the set with seven kills, as the home team established early momentum.
North Greenville responded in the second set, overcoming the Trojans' efforts to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-22 win. The visitors carried that momentum into the third set, using a late push to take a 25-20 victory and move within one set of the match.
Facing a 2-1 deficit, Mount Olive answered with its best offensive performance of the night in the fourth set. The Trojans hit .303 with 13 kills and just three errors, pulling away for a 25-19 win to force a decisive fifth set.
In the final frame, both teams battled through a tightly contested finish. North Greenville ultimately secured the 15-12 victory to take the match, despite a determined effort from the Trojans.
Melvin led Mount Olive with 24 kills and 15 digs, while Rachel Clark added 14 kills on an impressive .407 hitting percentage. Kaitlyn Landis also recorded 14 kills, and Lyndsay Reid orchestrated the offense with 56 assists. Kacey Gore anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 24 digs, while Marleigh Cooper contributed 14 digs.
Beyond the competition on the court, the Trojans used Friday's Pink Dig Match to support the Side-Out Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by metastatic breast cancer through advocacy, education and research. The event brought the Mount Olive community together to support an important cause.
Mount Olive falls to 9-11 overall and 5-7 in Conference Carolinas play, while North Greenville improves to 12-8 overall and 8-4 in league action.
The Trojans look to bounce back in their next outing as Conference Carolinas play continues tomorrow against Conference Carolinas foe Lees-McRae at home at 1 p.m.
