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March 29, 2024 6:35 am

Mount Olive volleyball sweeps Southern Wesleyan

CENTRAL, S.C. – After hammering 14 service aces on Friday night, the University of Mount Olive women’s volleyball team blanked Southern Wesleyan in a 3-0 sweep in Conference Carolinas action by scores of 25-14, 25-23, 25-10.

With the win, the Trojans improved to 17-8 this season with a 10-2 record in league play. Mount Olive reached 17 wins for the first time since the 2008 campaign and kept pace in the conference standings with UMO and UNCP only having two losses in league play. Meanwhile, the Warriors dropped to 3-20 overall behind a 1-13 mark in conference action.

Senior Amara Eziakonwa led the team with a game-high 10 kills. The Florida native paces the team in virtually every offensive category this season. Fellow senior Camryn Huber finished with seven kills, three digs and two blocks, while sophomore Karoline Cox registered a season-high seven kills. Seniors Madison Goodman had 17 assists and Jenna Myer had 14.

For the 10th time this season, sophomore Morgan Prots eclipsed at least 20 digs after totaling a match-high 22 against SWU. Mount Olive reached double-digit service aces for the 15th time this season with sophomore Neza Pec pacing the team with four while Eziakonwa added three.

In the first set, UMO established a 1-0 advantage after totaling 13 kills in the opening set. The Trojans built a 9-7 lead before producing a 7-1 run to stretch the advantage to 16-8. Southern Wesleyan scored four of the following six points to cut the deficit to 18-12. Mount Olive countered with a 7-2 rally, and freshman Caroline Sheaffer finished the set with a service ace.

The Trojans extended the lead to 2-0 after the second set featured eight ties and five lead changes. The Warriors generated a 12-8 advantage before UMO notched five straight points to take a 13-12 lead. Southern Wesleyan posted four of the following six points to reclaim a 16-15 advantage before Mount Olive totaled back-to-back points. The Warriors answered with a 6-2 run to stretch the lead to 22-19 before UMO closed the set by scoring six of the final seven points.

Mount Olive conquered SWU in the third set to record the sweep after tallying 13 kills. The Trojans raced out to an 8-2 advantage behind a pair of service aces from Pec before tacking on six consecutive points to hold a 14-2 lead. Both sides exchanged the next seven points before UMO scored three unanswered for a 21-6 advantage. The Warriors countered by scoring four of the following six points before a kill from Eziakonwa and an ace by Pec sealed the win.

— University of Mount Olive Athletics