All-Stars fall to Mount Olive in 5 sets
MOUNT OLIVE RALLIES TO DEFEAT CONVERSE 3-2 IN CVAC VOLLEYBALL
Mount Olive 3, Converse 2
Converse…..…… 31 30 16 26 12 (8-8 overall, 3-3 CVAC)
Mount Olive. 29 23 30 30 15 (5-2 overall, 3-0 CVAC)
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Sam Mitchell tallied a match-high 18 kills as Mount Olive rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat Converse 29-31, 23-30, 30-16, 30-26, 15-12 in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference volleyball Saturday at Kornegay Arena. Heidi Busch and Colby Mangum added 14 kills apiece for the Trojans.
Mount Olive (5-2 overall, 3-0 CVAC) appeared to be pulling away for a win in game one as the Trojans used a 7-2 run to overcome a one-point deficit and take a 27-23 lead. The Trojans still led 28-25, but Converse (8-8, 3-3) rallied to tie the game and then fought off a game point as the All-Stars won the final three points of the game.
In game two, Converse broke a 12-12 tie as Michelle Sloan served for seven consecutive points during an 8-0 run to give the All-Stars a 20-12 lead. The Trojans ended the run on a kill by Kari Ham, who served the next four points to pull Mount Olive within three. But that was as close as the Trojans would get as Converse scored the last four points of the game to take a two-game lead.
Converse led 10-9 in game three, but Busch’s dig from the floor set up a kill by Mitchell to tie the game and spark a 10-1 run to give the Trojans an eight-point lead. Mangum and Anna Luft had double blocks on consecutive points during the run. Converse got as close as six points, but Busch served three aces during a 6-0 run to end the game.
Mount Olive trailed by as many as three points in the early going of game four as a service ace by Brittany Ogez helped put Converse in the lead. But the Trojans broke a 9-9 tie on an ace and a service winner on consecutive points by Mallory Peavler during a 10-2 run to give Mount Olive a 17-11 lead. Luft had a pair of kills and Mangum added a kill and an ace during the run.
Converse answered with a run of its own, using a double block by Ogez and Lauren Mueller and a solo block by Leslie Shain to pull within 20-18. But a pair of double blocks by Luft and Ham helped Mount Olive build the lead to 27-20 and the Trojans withstood a late rally to close out the game and force a fifth game.
Mount Olive took control in the early going in game five, jumping out to an 11-3 lead. Mitchell recorded three kills in a four-point span and Luft dug a block attempt from the floor during the run. But Converse used a kill by Mueller and another double block by Mueller and Ogez to pull within 11-9. Mount Olive built the lead to 14-9, but Converse fought off three match points before Mangum’s kill sealed the win for the Trojans.
Saturday’s win extends Mount Olive’s home winning streak to 13. The win also marked the Trojans’ first comeback from a two-game deficit since November 15, 2003, against Queens in the quarterfinals of the CVAC Tournament.
Peavler finished with 49 assists for Mount Olive, while Busch had six aces and Mangum added four aces. Nikki Murphy recorded 15 digs for the Trojans. Mueller, Shain and Sarah Jovdan-Inalloo led Converse with 11 kills apiece. Mueller also tallied four blocks. Monica Wallace had 30 digs for Converse, while Shain added 27.
Mount Olive returns to action Sunday as the Trojans play host to Limestone in a CVAC contest. Match time is 2 p.m. at Kornegay Arena. Converse plays host to Coker Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in CVAC action.