Trojans Fall In Four To Bulldogs In Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Semifinals

Trojans Fall In Four To Bulldogs In Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Semifinals

BRISTOL, TENN. --- The No. 3 seeded University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team fell to the No. 2 seeded Barton College Bulldogs in four sets on Friday evening in the quarterfinal round of the 2018 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Championship tournament at the Student Center Complex on the campus of King University in Bristol, Tenn.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Barton 3, Mount Olive 1 (27-25, 24-26, 25-20, 25-19)
Records: Mount Olive (16-13, 11-5), Barton (21-7, 15-1)
Location: Student Center Complex | Bristol, Tenn.

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

FIRST SET

  • Mount Olive started the first set taking an early 4-2 lead over Barton on four kills, two by Robert Poole and one each from Jeff Yasalonis and Luke Visgitis.
  • Barton scored three straight to take a 5-4 lead but the Trojans countered with an 8-3 rally to take a four-point lead, 12-8, into a Bulldog timeout.
  • The Bulldogs fought back out of the timeout to trail by one, 16-15, but three straight Trojan kills opened the gap back up to four points, 19-15, forcing the second Barton timeout.
  • Following the break in the action, Barton went on a 7-3 run that knotted the score up at 22 all.
  • Despite reaching set point twice, the Trojans could not hold off the Bulldogs who scored the final three points of set one to win 27-25.

SECOND SET

  • The Bulldogs opened the second set with a 5-0 run that forced the Trojans to call a timeout to regroup.
  • Coming out of the timeout, Mount Olive went on a 12-7 run that tied the score up at 12 all as Barton called timeout. Two key blocks and an ace from Bret Rutledge, five Trojan kills, and four Barton errors contributed to the Mount Olive run.
  • UMO went point for point with Barton over the next couple of services, tying the score up at 15 all.
  • Barton took a three-point lead, 18-15, on consecutive Trojan errors, but Mount Olive put together three points of their own on two kills and an ace from Luke Visgitis knotting the score up at 18 all.
  • The Trojans took a one-point, 24-23 lead after a Rutledge ace broke the fifth tie and caused Barton to call timeout. 
  • The Bulldogs tied the score up once again at 24 all but Mount Olive put together consecutive points on a Bulldog error and a Yasalonis kill to win set two 26-24.

THIRD SET

  • Barton had momentum on their side as they started the third set with a 6-1 run.
  • The Bulldogs grew their lead to six, 10-4, as UMO was forced to call a timeout.
  • Mount Olive battled their way back to pull within two points, 12-10, on three kills and three Bulldog errors.
  • A 7-4 run increased the Barton lead to five points, 19-14, as UMO called their second timeout of the set.
  • UMO tried to overcome the BC lead but the Trojans ran out of time as the Bulldogs won the third set 25-20.

FOURTH SET

  • The Trojans started slow out of the gate as Barton took a 3-1 lead early.
  • Mount Olive rallied to trail by one, 9-8, following a Poole service ace. Four Barton errors and two kills also contributed in the seven-point run.
  • Barton opened up a four-point lead, 14-10, but Mount Olive pulled within one on three consecutive points to force the Barton timeout with the score at 14-13.
  • A 4-1 run by the Bulldogs out of the timeout cause the Trojans to call timeout as they trailed 18-14.
  • Another four-point run by the Bulldogs gave them an eight-point lead, up 22-14.
  • Barton reached match point, 24-15, but Mount Olive did not back down as they went on a four-point run to pull within five points, 24-19.
  • Coming out of their own timeout, Barton scored the match point to win the fourth set 25-19.

KEY STATS

  • Robert Poole led the Trojans with 12 kills while Bret Rutledge was just behind with 10 of his own. 
  • The Rutledge and Poole duo combined for six service aces with Rutledge tallying two and Poole four.
  • Rutledge led the team in digs with 11 while Josh Donahue was second with eight.
  • Jeff Yasalonis put up 33 assists finishing his career with 2,602 assists to secure his spot as the UMO program leader.
  • Barton recorded 61 kills to Mount Olive's 44.

UP NEXT

Mount Olive's season comes to an end with a 16-13 overall record and an 11-5 conference mark. Stay tuned to umotrojans.com for all of your Trojan Athletics news and updates.