University of Mount Olive fell to Lander University 25-19, 25-19, 25-16, in the opening match of a tri-match which also featured Armstrong State Saturday afternoon in Savannah, Ga.
In the first set Mount Olive (5-14) pulled to within one point of tying the match at 19 with the help of a 7-to-1 run that was sparked by Aubrey McKinney's two aces and the Trojans capitalizing off Lander (14-5) attacking errors. However, the Bearcats came back to win the set off alternating kills.
The Trojans were able to come to within two points at 18-16 in the second set but were unable to take over control and saw the Bearcats strive off four straight points in line to take the set.
Mount Olive came as close as 14-10 in the third set but was never able to grasp any momentum to stop the Lander offensive attack.
Britni Johnson led the team with eight kills and was a dig away from matching a season high as she totaled 17 digs for the match. Dezirae Mackey and Montgomery Register both tallied six kills apiece while Register also added two digs.
The Trojans concluded play Saturday with a loss to host Armstrong State 25-17, 25-16, 25-10.
In the first set Mount Olive (5-15) tried to make the set close by mounting off a five point rally to bring the match to within 23-15. Armstrong State (15-1) proved to be too much to handle as they took the set after only giving up two more points to the Trojans.
Armstrong came out firing in the second set, after Mount Olive took the opening point the Pirates rallied for seven straight points and never looked backed as the Trojans only managed to bring the set to within five.
The final set saw much of the same as Mount Olive could not handle the pressure from the Pirates and were not able to get their offensive going.
Register led the team with five kills in the second match as well as a dig and a block. Jordan Barnes also had 10 digs.
Mount Olive will have a week off before the Trojans return home to Kornegay Arena of Friday to host Pfeiffer University in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Match time is set for 7 p.m. on October 24.