FLORENCE, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team fell 3-1 to Francis Marion on Tuesday evening at the Smith University Center, dropping the Conference Carolinas matchup by scores of 25-16, 21-25, 25-14 and 25-14.
Despite the loss, junior libero Kacey Gore made program history, setting a new Mount Olive single-season record for digs. Gore enters postseason play with 600 digs, surpassing the previous record of 594 set by Mallory Peavler in 2008. Peavler reached that mark over 36 matches and 138 sets, while Gore eclipsed the record in just 28 matches and 110 sets.
Gore is also on pace to break the program's single-season digs-per-set record of 4.63, set by Nikki Murphy in 2006 with 514 digs. Gore currently averages 5.45 digs per set. Nationally, she ranks fourth in total digs and third in digs per set, having moved past Grace DeVall of Fairmont State, who has 579 digs.
The Trojans (15-13, 11-9 Conference Carolinas) bounced back from an opening-set loss to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-21 second-set victory.
Olivia Melvin led the Mount Olive offense with 18 kills on 46 attempts, hitting .217 for the match. She also recorded 13 digs to finish with a double-double. Kaitlyn Koel added seven kills, while Kaitlyn Landis contributed six kills.
Lyndsay Reid directed the Trojan offense with 36 assists and added 10 digs. Gore led the defensive effort with 25 digs, while Mount Olive finished with 70 digs total.
After dropping the opening set, Mount Olive responded in the second with its strongest offensive performance of the night, hitting .214 with 14 kills. Trailing 9-7, the Trojans put together a five-point scoring stretch to take a 12-9 lead. Mount Olive maintained its advantage down the stretch, closing the set with a kill from Melvin off an assist from Reid to secure the 25-21 win.
Francis Marion (22-7, 17-3 Conference Carolinas) regained control in the third set, recording 16 kills while hitting .333 to take a 25-14 decision. The Patriots carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with a 7-2 advantage before pulling away for another 25-14 victory to clinch the match.
With the regular season done, the Trojans turn to the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship. Mount Olive earned a sixth seed and will host the the eleventh seeded King Tornadoes on Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. in Kornegay Arena.
