Trojan volleyball team rallies to defeat North Greenville

TIGERVILLE, S.C. – The Trojans registered a reverse sweep on Saturday after overcoming an 0-2 deficit to defeat North Greenville by 3-2 margin in a five-set thriller in Conference Carolinas play by scores of 20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-15, 19-17.

With the win, the University of Mount Olive women’s volleyball team improved to 18-8 this season with an 11-2 record in league action. The Trojans captured their first win at North Greenville since 2013 while snapping a nine-match losing streak to the Crusaders. Meanwhile, North Greenville fell to 18-9 overall behind a 13-2 mark in conference play.

Senior Amara Eziakonwa contributed offensively and defensively throughout the match totaling 13 kills with four service aces while also hammering down eight blocks. Fellow senior Ele’sia Williams also finished with 13 kills, adding three blocks and five digs. Senior Camryn Huber had 12 kills and sophomore Ashlyn Stone had 11. Senior Jenna Myer registered her first assist/dig double-double of the year with 25 assists and a season-high 12 digs. Teammate Madison Goodman followed close behind with 24 assists and seven digs.

Sophomore Morgan Prots directed the defensive effort with 18 digs, while Myer totaled 12. Sophomore Neza Pec finished with nine digs and three service aces. UMO posted 11 blocks, led by Eziakonwa with eight (two solo), while Huber and senior Alyssa Jackson each provided four blocks (all assisted).

The fifth set featured 10 ties and three lead changes. Following a kill by Stone, the Trojans took a 10-8 advantage, but NGU quickly tied the contest at 10-10. Mount Olive scored four of the following seven points to hold a 14-13 lead before the Crusaders used a 3-1 run to retake the lead 16-15. The Trojans rallied with four of the following five points to seal the set 19-17 on a kill by Eziakonwa.

In the first set, both teams generated 15 kills. North Greenville seized a 10-7 lead before UMO countered with three straight points to tie the match, 10-10. The Crusaders went on an 8-3 run to stretch the lead to 18-13 before Mount Olive scored six of the next 10 points to close the gap, 22-19. North Greenville finished the set with a 3-1 rally to earn the win, 25-20.

The Crusaders extended the advantage to 2-0 in the second after capitalizing on seven attacking errors by UMO. The Trojans established an early 11-7 lead after a service ace from Pec before NGU answered with five consecutive points to lead 12-11. Mount Olive countered with a 6-2 rally to reclaim the lead 17-14 before the Crusaders scored four of the next five to tie the match, 18-18. North Greenville unleased an 7-2 rally to take the second set, 25-20.

In the third set, the Trojans avoided the sweep. Mount Olive built an 11-6 advantage after a pair of aces from Eziakonwa, but NGU managed to trim the deficit to 13-11. After two different ties midway through the set, UMO ripped off a 9-2 rally to take a convincing 24-17 lead. Following a kill by North Greenville, Mount Olive claimed the third set 25-18 after an attacking error.

UMO tied the match at 2-2 in the fourth after recording 15 kills. The Trojans took a 12-9 advantage early in the set before North Greenville answered with four straight points to take the lead, 13-12. UMO countered with a 12-2 run, including three kills from Williams, to secure the fourth set by a score of 25-15.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics