University of Mount Olive concluded play Saturday in the Penn State University Men's Volleyball Tournament, falling to nationally 12th-ranked Cal State Northridge 25-12, 25-17, 25-20. Peyton Schirman led all players with 14 kills for the Trojans.
After taking nationally top-ranked Long Beach State to the wire in two of three sets Friday, Mount Olive (8-6) fell behind early in all three sets against Cal State Northridge (12-7). The Trojans led 4-3 in the second set after a kill by Schirman, a block by Schirman and Alex Palmatier, and an ace by Jeff Yasalonis. But Cal State Northridge used back-to-back aces by Jakub Siesla to trigger a 9-2 run to put the Matadors ahead to stay.
The Trojans battled back from an eight-point deficit in the final set as Schirman sparked a late rally with two kills and an ace. A block by Brad Monaghan and Mike Mann saved a third consecutive match point before Cal State Northridge sealed the win on Eric Chance's kill.
Mount Olive is idle until next weekend when the Trojans will conclude Spring Break with a pair of matches in the Hoosier State. The Trojans go to Fort Wayne, Ind., next Saturday to take on IPFW, then head to Muncie, Ind. to face No. 8 Ball State.