MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The King University women's volleyball team earned their second victory in as many days, defeating the University of Mount Olive Saturday afternoon.
Julie Ward posted a double-double to lead the Tornado to the 3-1 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Mount Olive 1 (25-21, 16-25, 25-22, 25-23)
LOCATION: Kornegay Arena; Mount Olive, N.C.
RECORDS: King 5-2, 2-1 Conference Carolinas; Mount Olive 2-2, 2-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- Georgia Davis and Ward accounted for consecutive kills to give King a 7-5 lead early in the set.
- The Tornado held that lead until the Trojans went on a 5-0 run to take a 15-13 lead.
- However, King responded with three straight points to regain the advantage.
- Four straight Mount Olive points gave the Trojans a 20-17 lead before King closed the set on a run.
- The Tornado scored back-to-back points to pull within one before a Mount Olive point made the score 21-19.
- Ward then started a 6-0 King run to close the set with consecutive kills.
- Katie Harless gave King the 25-21 victory with a service ace that followed a Brittney Ramsey kill.
Second Set
- Mount Olive jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second set and later used a 5-0 run to open up a 13-7 advantage.
- The Trojans went on two more 5-0 spurts as the Tornado couldn't recover in the 25-16 Mount Olive victory.
Third Set
- Mount Olive grabbed the early lead and used a 6-0 run to open up a 14-7 lead.
- King started to work their way back with five straight points started by a Ward kill.
- Ward later evened the score with a kill in the middle of a 4-0 spurt that put the Tornado ahead 19-17.
- Abigail Shaffer gave King a 24-19 lead with an ace before King had to hold off a 3-0 Trojan run.
- Hailee Blankenship gave King the 25-22 win with a kill.
Fourth Set
- The Trojans jumped ahead 4-1 in the fourth set, but King came back with five straight points.
- Blankenship and Ramsey capped the Tornado run with consecutive kills, giving King a 6-4 lead.
- Mount Olive used three straight points to pull within 19-18, but Harless came up with a kill for the Tornado.
- The Trojans later evened the score at 23 with a 3-0 run before King scored the final two points.
- A Ward kill gave King a chance at match point and a Trojan attack error gave King the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ward posted season-highs of 18 kills and 16 digs to lead the Tornado.
- Ramsey followed with eight kills while Blankenship added six kills and 12 digs.
- Harless handed out 20 assists and added nine digs.
- Shaffer led the Tornado with 24 digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Amara Eziakonwa led Mount Olive with 10 kills.
- Starr Sergent accounted for eight kills and 15 digs.
- Camryn Huber added eight kills and four blocks.
- Morgan Prots posted 24 digs while Jenna Myer handed out 14 assists and added 10 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The double-double for Ward is her fourth of the season.
- Shaffer sets a career-high with 24 digs, topping her previous best of 21.
- For the second consecutive day, Blankenship sets a career-high with 12 digs.
UP NEXT
- King travels to Belmont Abbey College on Friday. First serve from Belmont, N.C. is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
- Mount Olive travels to Southern Wesleyan University on Friday.
