Trojans fall on the road versus Queens

CHARLOTTE – In the second meeting between the two sides this season, the Trojans suffered a 3-0 loss on the road at Queens in non-conference play on April 4 by scores of 25-22, 25-21, 25-20.

With the loss, the University of Mount Olive men’s volleyball team dropped to 9-15 overall while holding a 6-7 mark in away contests. The Royals have won the previous three matches, as the series is split 5-5 dating back to the 2018 season. Meanwhile, Queens improved to 13-12 this year.

Junior Hayden Frear led the team with nine kills while adding seven digs and one block over three sets. Freshman Cory Grant tallied eight kills and 10 digs in the match, while senior Pedro Gonzalez finished with six kills. Freshman Jackson Lahey directed the offense with 28 assists and totaled six digs and two blocks. Senior Trevor Treser led the defensive effort with 11 digs, while sophomore Holden Maryott had three blocks.

In the first set, the Trojans jumped out to an early 10-4 advantage with five players recording a kill. The Royals countered with a 10-3 run to claim a 14-13 lead before the match was tied at 16-16. Mount Olive regained the lead at 19-18 following three straight kills before Queens rallied by scoring four unanswered points, 22-19. UMO trimmed the deficit to 22-21 before the Royals totaled three of the final four points to win by a 25-22 margin.

Queens built an 11-7 lead to begin the second set before the sides exchanged the next six points, 14-10. The Trojans scored four of the following five points to cut the deficit to 15-14, but the Royals re-established their advantage with a short 4-1 run to hold a 19-15 edge. Queens maintained a four-point advantage for the remainder of the set before winning on a kill, 25-21.

In the third set, the Trojans grabbed an early 4-1 lead before the Royals responded with four straight points to take a slight 5-4 advantage. UMO reclaimed the lead by tallying six of the following nine points to take a 10-8 edge before Queens eventually cut the deficit to 13-12. The Royals took the lead and pulled away with an 11-3 run, but Mount Olive answered with a 4-1 rally, 24-20. Queens sealed the win with a kill to complete the sweep, 25-20.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics