Britni Johnson had four of her match-high 18 kills and Casey Fiechter served five consecutive points during a match-ending 8-2 scoring run as University of Mount Olive rallied from four points down in the fifth set and overcame a two-set deficit for a 21-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-13 victory over Chowan in non-conference women's volleyball Wednesday at Kornegay Arena. The match was the home opener for the Trojans.
Mount Olive (2-3) trailed 11-7 in the fifth set after Chowan got a kill from Nikira Fults. The Trojans got a side out on a Hawks attack error, setting the stage for Fiechter's service run. Johnson and Montgomery Register recorded kills and after a Chowan timeout, Johnson and Register again each notched a kill to put the Trojans ahead to stay. Mount Olive scored again on Fiechter's serve to take a 13-11 lead.
Johnson answered a Chowan side out with a kill and after another Hawks side out saved a match point, Mount Olive clinched the win on Johnson's kill to the middle of the Hawks' back row.
The Trojans were down two sets and trailed 18-15 in the third set after an ace by Lauren East. The Trojans tied the set on a kill by Dezirae Mackey and back-to-back kills by Johnson. Register's kill broke a 20-20 tie and Alysha Burnett recorded a kill on match point to keep Mount Olive in the match.
Burnett keyed Mount Olive in the fourth set with four kills during a 6-1 run as the Trojans broke away from a 13-13 tie. Chowan (2-3) saved a pair of set points, but Sarah Watkins' kill evened the match and force the deciding fifth set.
In the opening set, Mount Olive saw a 4-0 lead disappear, but used Clara Ervin's service run to score five unanswered points and build an 18-15 advantage. Chowan rallied and took the lead for good after a Trojan error broke a 19-19 tie. Chowan scored the final three points of the second set as Melanie Chaussee's kill gave Chowan a two-set advantage.
After a slow start in the first two sets, Johnson had 13 kills and a .324 hitting percentage in the final three sets.
Register finished with 14 kills and five blocks, while Burnett added 13 kills after coming off the bench in the second set. Samantha Winfield recorded 55 assists and served three of the Trojans' eight aces. Fiechter shared match-high honors with 28 digs.
Brianna Smith led Chowan with 14 kills, while Chaussee added 11 kills. Hawks libero Cindy Ehrich matched Fiechter with 28 digs.
Both of Mount Olive's wins this season have been in five sets. The Trojans rallied from four-point deficits in the final set in both matches.
Mount Olive takes to the road this weekend as the Trojans travel to Nashville, Tenn., to compete in the Scott Jones Classic, hosted by Trevecca Nazarene. Mount Olive faces Arkansas Tech Friday, then takes on Oakland City and Trevecca Nazarene Saturday.