- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- MOC Homepage
- Recruiting Questionnaire
- Multimedia
- Athletics Directory
- Athletics News
- MOC Awards Banquet
- Athletic Training
- Athletics Facilities
- Cheerleading
- Trojan Club
- Camps
- Hall of Fame
- SAAC
Athletic News
10/31/2009 -
Mount Olive Falls To Belmont Abbey 3-1 In Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball
Mount Olive suffered consecutive conference losses for the first time this season as the Trojans fell to Belmont Abbey 19-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20 in Conference Carolinas women’s volleyball Saturday at Belmont, N.C. Christiane Maul and Alicia Mote paced the Trojans with 11 kills apiece.
Mount Olive (12-16 overall, 11-4 Conference Carolinas) used service aces by Kailey Preece and Caitlin Skislak to jump out to a 9-4 lead in the first set. Belmont Abbey (6-16, 6-9) rallied to take its first lead at 13-12 on Bria James’ ace. Joanie Werling’s kill broke a 19-19 tie and Racey Bartley had three kills during Preece’s five-point service run to close out the set.
The Trojans scored the first three points of the second set and held the lead until Belmont Abbey tied the set 15-15. Kills on consecutive points by Maul and Werling gave Mount Olive an 18-16 lead, but Belmont Abbey closed the set on a 9-2 run to even the match at one set apiece.
Belmont Abbey built an early three-point lead in the third set before Werling’s ace put Mount Olive on top 14-13. A series of Trojan attack errors helped Belmont Abbey regain the lead as the Crusaders built the margin to 21-17. Mount Olive scored the next four points, highlighted by two kills by Bartley and a double block by Bartley and Werling.
Mount Olive rallied from a 23-21 deficit on a kill by Werling and another double block by Werling and Bartley. After a Belmont Abbey side out, Skislak’s kill saved one set point. But Belmont Abbey went back on top and a double block on set point by Stephanie Holler and James gave the Crusaders the set.
Belmont Abbey led from the start in the fourth set and built the lead to as many as six points. A solo block by Preece and a double block by Preece and Werling helped pull Mount Olive within 20-17. But that was as close as the Trojans would get as Belmont Abbey won four of the final six points.
The loss was Mount Olive’s first against Belmont Abbey since the Crusaders reinstated volleyball in 2002.
Werling finished with 42 assists, five blocks and three aces for Mount Olive. Bartley added 10 kills and three blocks, while Mote completed a double-double with 13 digs. Preece also shared match-high honors with three aces, including an ace on the first point of the match.
Holler led Belmont Abbey with a match-high 14 kills and three aces. Kay Schellenburg recorded 32 assists, while James finished with 11 digs. Angela Jubb had four blocks, the last coming on a double block on match point.
Losses this weekend at Belmont Abbey and Lees-McRae keep Mount Olive in third place in the conference standings, but the Trojans are now three games behind conference leader Lees-McRae with only three matches remaining. Mount Olive is 1 1/2 games behind second-place Pfeiffer and has a one-game lead over Anderson and Limestone.
Mount Olive plays all of its remaining regular season matches at home as the Trojans battle for homecourt advantage during the upcoming Conference Carolinas Tournament. The top four seeds host first-round matches and the highest remaining seeds host the semifinals and championship.
Mount Olive begins its homestand Tuesday as the Trojans play host to St. Andrews in Conference Carolinas action. Mount Olive defeated St. Andrews in four sets September 30 at Laurinburg, N.C. Match time is 7 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.