Trojans swept at home by Queens
MOUNT OLIVE – The Trojans were held to a season-low 25 kills in a 3-0 loss versus Queens (N.C.) on Feb. 15 in non-conference action at Kornegay Arena by scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-23.
The University of Mount Olive men’s volleyball team suffered its fifth straight loss to drop to 4-6 overall after hosting its first home match in nearly a month. It marked the ninth meeting between the sides dating back to 2018 with the Trojans holding a slight 5-4 advantage in the series. Meanwhile, Queens improved to 4-8 this season while competing as an independent Division I program.
Sophomore Tate Sandvig tied for the team lead with six kills with one ace and three digs, while junior Justin Gregory also managed six kills. Sophomore Holden Maryott produced five kills. Freshman Jackson Lahey led the offensive effort with 21 assists while tallying four digs.
Gregory paced the defense with nine digs, while senior Trevor Treser registered six digs. Mount Olive totaled a season-high 10 total blocks with Gregory and Maryott tying with five while senior Pedro Gonzalez recorded four blocks (two solo).
The Trojans built an early 5-3 advantage in the first set behind a pair of kills from Maryott. Queens answered by scoring five of the following seven points to take an 8-7 lead. Gregory tied the match on a kill, 12-12, but the Royals countered with an 8-3 rally to establish a 22-15 advantage. UMO closed the gap to 23-18 before Queens capitalized on two errors to take the first set, 25-19.
In the second set, the Royals raced out to a 9-4 lead before the Trojans responded with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to 11-9. Queens scored five straight points to stretch the lead before eventually holding a 21-13 advantage late in the set. Mount Olive rallied by registering four of the next five points to trail by a 22-17 margin, but the Royals finished the set with three unanswered points to win, 25-17.
Queens completed the 3-0 sweep in the third after leaping out to a 4-0 advantage following a trio of attacking errors. UMO answered with an 8-2 rally to claim the lead before the Royals countered with three consecutive points. At the midway point of the set, the score was knotted 15-15 before the Trojans grabbed a slight 17-15 lead. Queens responded with four straight points to regain the advantage, but Mount Olive would tie the contest again, 19-19. The Royals mounted a 5-2 run to get to set points at 24-21, but the Trojans benefitted from a pair of errors to cut the deficit to 24-23. Queens secured the victory on the next point with a kill.
— From University of Mount Olive Athletics
