University of Mount Olive scored in the 20's in each of the final two sets against the top-ranked team in the nation before falling to No. 1 Long Beach State University 25-13, 25-22, 25-21 in the opening night of the Penn State University Men's Volleyball Tournament Friday at University Park, Pa. The Trojans cut a six-point deficit down to a single point late in the third set.
Mount Olive (8-5) trailed 15-9 in the final set before a pair of kills by Mike Mann highlighted a 6-2 run to pull the Trojans within two points. Long Beach State (16-2) extended the lead to four, but a kill and block by Andrew Sydow triggered a 3-0 run to close the gap to 20-19 and force the 49'ers to call a time out.
Sydow answered a Long Beach State side out with another kill, but the 49'ers scored four of the final five points to close out the match.
After dropping the first set, the Trojans used an ace by Hugo van Garderen and a kill by Mann to take a 5-3 lead in the first set. Long Beach State went back on top, but the margin never grew above two points. Robert Poole's ace and Peyton Schirman's kill helped tie the set 18-18. Long Beach State used a 6-2 run to take the lead for good.
A 49'er service error and a kill by Poole saved two set points before Long Beach State used Dan Glamack's kill to grab a two-set advantage.
Schirman led the Trojans with nine kills and seven digs, while Poole added eight kills. Jeff Yasalonis finished with 20 assists and Andrew Salmon shared match-high honors with seven digs.
Glamack led all players with 12 kills for Long Beach State.
Mount Olive concludes tournament play Saturday against another national top 15 California team as the Trojans take on No. 12 Cal State Northridge. Match time is 5 p.m.