University of Mount Olive took a first set win, but was unable to stop the three set rally by Barton College as the Trojans fell 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 in Conference Carolinas men's volleyball Wednesday night in Wilson, N.C. Peyton Schirman set a new career-high 24 kills in the match.
In the opening set Mount Olive (3-2 Overall, 2-2 Conference Carolinas) went down early as Barton (6-2, 4-2) took a 6-3 lead. Schirman picked up the sideout kill off the set from Jeff Yasalonis to start a 6-1 rally to take a 9-7 lead. Barton, however bounced back with a three point and four point run to take 16-13 lead.
The Trojans did not allow the momentum to stay with the Bulldogs for long, as down 17-14, Mount Olive put together a 5-1 run to regain the lead 19-18. Barton answered with a kill and Mount Olive countered to two more points to take a 21-19 lead. The set ended with both team exchanging points, until Schirman picked up the set point kill.
Barton started off the second set with a 4-0 run after Mount Olive took the first point. The Bulldogs did not take the foot off the petal as their lead started to grow. The deficit never fell below four as Barton evened the sets at one all.
Mount Olive was not able to recover from four three point rallies by the Bulldogs in the third set and much of the same happened in the four set as the Barton lead never fell below four.
Schirman added five digs to his career-high kill performance. Bret Rutledge also contributed 10 kills and three digs to the Trojan offense. Yasalonis picked up a team high 35 assists.
Mount Olive returns home for a four match home stand beginning Friday against Belmont Abbey. The Trojans then host Pfeiffer, Lees-McRae, and King to round out the home stand next Thursday-Saturday.