Angel Dache recorded 12 kills and Mount Olive gave nationally 12th-ranked Ohio State a scare in the second set before falling 25-15, 25-23, 25-17 in non-conference men's volleyball Friday at Columbus, Ohio. The Trojans rallied from a five-point deficit in the second set and came within two points of taking the set.
Mount Olive (21-5) trailed 17-12 in the second set when a kill by Alex Rivero and a kill and an ace by Dache sparked a 4-1 run to pull the Trojans within two. Ohio State (16-5) built the margin back to four and appeared to be on its way to a two-set advantage with a 23-20 lead.
The Trojans put together another rally on kills by Adam Miracle and Dache, and a Buckeye attack error allowed Mount Olive to tie the set 23-23. But Ohio State's Andrew Lutz closed out the set with a kill and a solo block.
Mount Olive plays its regular season finale Tuesday as the Trojans play host to Barton in a Conference Carolinas match-up. The Trojans won the first meeting 3-0 January 16 at Barton. Match time is 7 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.
After Tuesday's regular season finale, top-seeded and regular season conference champion Mount Olive will get a first-round bye and host a semifinal round match in the 2013 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Tournament April 10 at Kornegay Arena.