BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's volleyball team dropped their Conference Carolinas opener to the University of Mount Olive. The Tornado played well in the middle sets, but the Trojan defense slowed the King offense in the final set to give Mount Olive the 3-1 win.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Mount Olive 3, King 1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 0-8, 0-1 Conference Carolinas; Mount Olive 7-1, 1-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Mount Olive jumped out to a 3-1 lead behind a block and service error before back-to-back Tornado points.
- King continued the run and took a 6-4 lead on a block from Andrew Haber and Sean Haberthy.
- A 3-0 Mount Olive run later evened the set a 9-9 as the teams started to trade points.
- The Trojans used a 5-1 run to break at 15-15 tie and take a 20-16 lead as the Tornado called for a timeout.
- The Tornado couldn't recover as Mount Olive took the set 25-20.
Second Set
- The King offense responded in the second set, hitting .375 and registering three aces.
- A Kellan Kennedy kill broke a 10-10 tie and he later served an ace to give the Tornado a 13-10 advantage.
- The lead stayed there before back-to-back kills from Kenney and Kolten Soon gave King a 22-17 lead and forced a Mount Olive timeout.
- Kennedy posted another kill before a Mason Martindale termination gave King the 25-19 win.
Third Set
- Both offenses played well, but the Trojans posted four more kills and added two aces to edge the Tornado and take a 2-1 lead.
- Mount Olive held a two-point advantage for the majority of the set and pulled away with a 7-3 run to take the set 25-20.
Fourth Set
- The Mount Olive defense turned the tide in the fourth set as they held the King offense to a .000 attack percentage with six blocks in the set.
- The Tornado jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind a block from Zach Daniels and Kennedy before a pair of Warren Davis kills.
- However, the Trojans used a 6-2 run to even the tally before the teams started trading points.
- The score was tied at 18 when Mount Olive scored three straight points to take a 21-18 lead.
- King couldn't recover as Mount Olive took the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Davis led the Tornado with 19 kills and seven digs while Kennedy added eight kills and three blocks.
- Haber handed out 36 assists and added five digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Justin Gregory led Mount Olive with 12 kills, four blocks and four digs.
- Holden Maryott added nine kills and Hayden Frear chipped in with eight kills and four digs.
- Jackson Lahey handed out 36 assists and added five blocks and six digs.
UP NEXT
- King hosts Barton College at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in the Student Center Complex.
- Mount Olive travels to Lees-McRae College on Saturday.
