BELMONT – The University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team battled hard but ultimately fell 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25) to Belmont Abbey in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Championship Final on Sunday afternoon at the Wheeler Center.
Mount Olive (15-9) showed resilience throughout the match, responding after dropping the opening set by claiming the second set behind efficient offensive play. The Trojans hit .276 in the frame and capitalized on key errors from Belmont Abbey to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set proved to be the turning point, as both teams traded points in a tightly contested battle featuring numerous ties and lead changes. Despite strong efforts from the Trojans, Belmont Abbey used a late push to secure the 25-23 win and regain momentum.
In the fourth set, Mount Olive stayed within striking distance early, but Belmont Abbey pulled away midway through the frame, using a balanced attack and timely blocks to close out the match and secure the conference title.
Offensively, the Trojans were led by
Matthew Ekberg, who recorded a team-high 18 kills, while
Kory Grant added 12 kills and
Brooks Ignosci contributed 10. Setter
Jackson Lahey orchestrated the offense with 42 assists, guiding Mount Olive to a .230 team hitting percentage.
Defensively, Mount Olive totaled 38 digs and 7.5 team blocks, with contributions coming across the lineup. Libero
Luca Colombo anchored the back row with steady serve reception and defensive play.
Belmont Abbey finished the match hitting .331 as a team and held the advantage at the net with 9.5 total blocks.
Despite the loss, the Trojans close out the season with consecutive trips to the Conference Carolinas Tournament, continuing their consistent presence in postseason play.
