MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - University of Mount Olive men's volleyball team was picked to finish second in the Conference Carolinas standings as voted on by the league head coaches. The Barton Bulldogs took first over the Trojans by 14 points after receiving eight first-place votes. Mount Olive collected 66 points and one first-place vote in the preseason poll and narrowly edged out Belmont Abbey who received 63 points.
UMO enters the season with a new head coach at the helm in Ali'i Keohohou who played collegiately at Cal State Northridge. The Trojans return two all-conference honorees from the 2018 season in senior Brad Monaghan and Luke Visgitis who both received third-team honors a season ago. Last season Mount Olive finished with a 16-13 overall record and 11-5 in league play and a conference tournament semifinals appearance.
Mount Olive lost five of the seven starters from the 2018 squad including four all-conference players in Josh Donahue, Robert Poole, Jeff Yasalonis and Bret Rutledge. Head coach Ali'i Keohohou added four freshmen to his roster to join the returning 11 Trojans from the 2018 season. Two outside hitters and two setters comprise the incoming class of 2023.
2019 MVB Poll:
1. Barton - 80 (8)
2. Mount Olive - 66 (1)
3. Belmont Abbey - 63
4. King - 62
5. Limestone - 52
6. North Greenville - 47
t7. Emmanuel - 34
t7. Erskine - 34
9. Lees-McRae - 30
Players to Watch:
- Tobi Azeez (Fr.) - Outside Hitter
- ^*Brad Monaghan (Sr.) - Outside Hitter
- *Luke Visgitis (So.) - Middle Blocker
^ - Karch Kiraly Award Watch List by Off the Block
* - denotes 2018 All-Conference Carolinas selection
For a full link to the Conference Carolinas release click here.
The Trojans open their season at home as they host the reigning national championships of Long Beach State at 7 p.m. on January 10.