Women's Volleyball Concludes Play At Queens Invitational

The University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team concluded play Saturday in the season-opening Queens University of Charlotte Invitational at Charlotte, N.C. The Trojans posted an 0-4 record at the two-day event.

Mount Olive opened play Friday with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 loss to GRU Augusta, then dropped a 25-23, 25-11, 25-16 decision to Catawba. Alysha Burnett led the Trojans with a match-high 10 kills against GRU Augusta. Against Catawba, freshman setter Danielle Stachura recorded 26 assists and shared team-high honors with nine digs.

Saturday, the Trojans fell to Lenoir-Rhyne 25-18, 25-18, 25-15, then wrapped tournament play with a 25-20, 25-10, 25-23 loss to Montevallo. Jordan Barnes led the Trojans defensively against Lenoir-Rhyne with 12 digs. Mackenzie Call served two of Mount Olive's six aces against Montevallo.

Mount Olive appeared to be on pace to finish the tournament on a winning note as the Trojans jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first set against Montevallo. Stachura recorded a kill, a block and a pair of assists to spark the early run. The Trojans still held a 14-8 lead until a 10-2 run put Montevallo ahead to stay.

In the third set, Mount Olive rallied from a three-point deficit as Call's ace broke an 18-18 tie. After Montevallo regained the lead, Burnett's kill tied the set 20-20. But Montevallo scored the next four points and held on for the win.

Mount Olive is idle until next weekend when the Trojans travel to Florence, S.C., to compete in the Francis Marion University Invitational. The Trojans take on West Alabama and Francis Marion Friday, then face Alabama-Huntsville and Georgia College Saturday.