AIKEN, S.C. - The University of Mount Olive women's volleyball team split on the first day of the USC Aiken Invitational tournament in Aiken, S.C. The Trojans toppled the Broncos 3-2 in game one, but fell to the Pacers in three sets in game two.
GAME 1 INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 3, Fayetteville State 2 (25-19, 14-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11)
Records: Mount Olive 3-2; Fayetteville State 1-1
Location: Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
Play-by-Play
FIRST SET
- The match opened up with Fayetteville State getting the early momentum before Mount Olive called timeout down 9-5.
- UMO pulled within one as FSU called a TO leading 12-11.
- The Trojans came out of the timeout on fire, tying the set and then taking the lead, one they would not relinquish, to win the set 25-19.
SECOND SET
- Mount Olive carried the momentum from the win in the set into the second as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead right off the bat.
- The Trojans offense stalled allowing the Broncos to take over the lead, which led to them taking the set 25-14.
THIRD SET
- The teams battled back and forth vying for control a majority of the match.
- The score tied six times before the Broncos gained a slight lead, up 18-16.
- The Trojans pulled within one point, down 23-22, but a setting error and an FSU kill gave the third set to the Broncos.
FOURTH SET
- UMO refocused in the fourth set opening up the set on a 5-2 run.
- The Trojans built up a nine point lead (19-10) on Bronco errors and seven kills.
- FSU fought back, in the end, to cut the UMO lead to two points before a kill by Britni Johnson sealed the set 25-22 and tying the match at two sets apiece.
FIFTH SET
- The score sat tied at five all following a back-and-forth opening to the tie-breaker set.
- FSU scored three consecutive points going up 8-5, but UMO scored five straight to take the lead 10-8.
- Errors by the Broncos proved to be their downfall as the Trojans pulled away with a 15-11 set win and a 3-2 match win.
KEY STATS
- Kamber Skeen tallied 50 assists throughout the five matches.
- Britni Johnson led the Trojans with 19 kills and was second with 19 digs behind Casey Fiechter who collected 22.
- Freshman Cyerra Carter led the team with five assisted blocks and was second with 10 kills.
GAME 2 INFORMATION
Score: USC Aiken 3, Mount Olive 0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-16)
Records: Mount Olive 3-3; USC Aiken 3-2
Location: Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
Play-by-Play
FIRST SET
- Fatigue seemed to plague the Trojans as they rolled right into their second match of the day after winning the five setter against Fayetteville State.
- USC Aiken got out to an early lead scoring 13 unanswered points before an attacking error gave the Trojans their first point.
- UMO went on a 9-5 run but the Pacers lead was too great to overcome as the Trojans dropped the first set 25-10.
SECOND SET
- The Trojans collected themselves in the second set keeping within two or three points and even tying the Pacers 6-6.
- USC Aiken steadily grew their lead to ten points leading 20-10.
- Mount Olive and USC Aiken finished out the match each scoring five points, with the host school winning the set 25-15.
THIRD SET
- The Pacers and Trojans were neck and neck in the third set as a ball handling error put UMO within one point (7-8).
- USC Aiken slowly pulled away and finished the set with a nine point advantage to win the set 25-16.
NEXT UP
The Trojans play again tomorrow, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. as they face Anderson (S.C.) and follow with their fourth match of the USC Aiken Invitational against Lander at 4 p.m.