Mount Olive volleyball team falls at Emmanuel
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – After being held to just 28 kills, the Trojans fell by a 3-0 margin at Emmanuel Oct. 8 in Conference Carolinas play. Emmanuel took the match 25-18, 25-17, 25-12.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women’s volleyball team dropped to 12-8 overall behind a 5-2 mark in conference action. Following the long road trip, the Trojans return to Kornegay Arena for three of their next four matches. Meanwhile, the Lions improved to 14-7 this season with an 8-1 record in league play.
Seniors Alyssa Jackson and Amara Eziakonwa tied for the team lead with six kills. Sophomores Ashlyn Stone and Neza Pec each tallied four kills, while senior Jenna Myer directed the offense with 16 assists on Saturday.
Sophomore Morgan Prots guided the defensive effort with 15 digs and became the 10th player in UMO history to reach 1,000 career digs. The Union Pines product has averaged more than five digs per set over three seasons with the program and totaled 551 digs last season in 29 matches played.
In the first set, the Trojans tied the match at 10-10 following a kill by Eziakonwa before the Lions scored four of the next five points to take a 14-11 lead. UMO managed to trim the deficit to 16-15, but Emmanuel posted four consecutive points to take a 20-15 advantage. Mount Olive countered with three of the following four points to cut the deficit to 21-18 before the Lions closed out the set with four-straight points.
In the second set, Emmanuel took a 2-0 match advantage after holding UMO to nine kills. The Lions established a 10-4 lead before the Trojans answered with three consecutive points, including a pair of kills by Jackson. Emmanuel stretched the advantage to 14-8 before a 5-2 run by Mount Olive closed the gap to 16-13. The Lions scored six of the following eight points to take a 22-15 lead before UMO recorded back-to-back points. Following a service error, Emmanuel finished with two service aces to take the second set, 25-17.
The Lions claimed the match win in the third set after totaling a match-high 16 kills. Emmanuel worked the lead to 14-9 before a 7-0 run extended the advantage to 21-9. Both teams traded the next six points before a kill by the Lions sealed the victory.
