Mount Olive secures win on Senior Day

MOUNT OLIVE – After registering 51 kills with 14 blocks on April 8, the Trojans captured a 3-1 victory versus Tusculum on Senior Day in non-conference action at Kornegay Arena by scores of 21-25, 25-13, 25-17, 25-12.

With the win, the University of Mount Olive men’s volleyball team improved to 10-16 overall in their home finale. The Trojans swept the season series against the Pioneers and boast a 4-0 record in the all-time series dating back to 2020. Meanwhile, Tusculum dropped to 9-17 this season.

Sophomore Tate Sandvig paced the team with 14 kills with five blocks, four digs and two service aces. Junior Justin Gregory delivered 12 kills with six digs and three blocks, while teammate Chance Gallardo finished with eight kills with six digs. Freshman Jackson Lahey directed the offense with his sixth assist/dig double-double of the year after tallying 42 assists and 10 digs against the Pioneers.

On the defensive end, senior libero Trevor Treser produced a game-high 16 digs with four assists, while Lahey also reached double-digit digs. The Trojans totaled 14 total blocks, as senior Pedro Gonzalez controlled the net with a career-high eight blocks (two solo).

In the opening set, the Pioneers jumped ahead by a 5-3 margin before UMO responded with four straight points after kills from three different players, 7-5. Tusculum eventually tied the contest at 11-11. Later, the Pioneers pulled in front with a 6-1 run to hold a 21-17 edge before Mount Olive tallied four of the next six points, 23-21. Tusculum clinched the first set with back-to-back kills, 25-21.

The Trojans established a 6-3 lead in the second set before scoring six straight points to take a 12-3 advantage. The Pioneers registered four of the following six points to cut the deficit to 14-7 before UMO answered with a 5-1 run to stretch the lead to 19-8. Mount Olive capitalized on three service errors late in the set before Sandvig closed the set with a kill, 25-13.

In the third set, UMO took an early 10-6 advantage after going on a 4-1 run with kills from Gregory and Gallardo. The Pioneers remained within striking distance of the lead before trimming the deficit to 17-14. The Trojans countered by tallying six of the following seven points with three blocks to grab a comfortable 23-15 lead. Tusculum responded with back-to-back points before Mount Olive sealed the set by a 25-17 margin.

Following three ties in the opening points of the fourth set, the Trojans mounted a 9-1 rally with a pair of kills by Gregory to take an 18-10 edge. Following a service error, Mount Olive claimed the fourth set by scoring seven of the final eight points with kills from five UMO players, 25-12.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics