Trojans Sweep Braves in Three Sets
The UNCP volleyball team had their originally scheduled matchup with Mount Olive moved up so that the athletes could evacuate sooner in preparation of hurricane Florence. The Braves fell to the Trojans 3-0. PN photo/Trevon Knight
Due to the impending impact of Hurricane Florence and the precautions taken by the university to make sure the players and coaches got to safety, the UNCP volleyball team had their regular scheduled match against the University of Mount Olive Trojans moved up to noon on Sept. 11 at the Kornegay Arena.
The Braves intended to build off of a strong showing against St. Andrews Knights in which they completed a 3-0 sweep of their own against a struggling Mount Olive team with only one win on the season.
However, they were unable to pull off late set rallies and headed into their reprieve from classes and competitive season by getting swept by the Trojans in three sets to give them just their second victory of the season.
The Trojans got out to a early 8-4 lead before the Braves managed to tie the set up at 20 even until the home team was able to put away the first set by scoring five straight unanswered, two coming off of service aces and another by way of a Braves service error.
Set number two was more of a back and forth affair that saw both teams take the lead from the other on several different occasions.
While the Braves were able to go on a 4-1 run midway through the set, the Trojans were able to close the gap and eventually take the set due to yet another UNCP attack error.
The third and final set featured rallies from both teams early and late in the set while the Braves were able to tie it up 24-24 due to an attack error by a late attack error by Mount Olive, but the Black and Gold were undone by two straight kills to end the match.
Senior Aquia Jones once again led the team and posted double-digit figures in kills with 15. Senior Bailee Jones recorded the most assists for the 12 straight match this season with 25 and even finished second in digs on the day with eight.
Junior libero Anna Heinz notched the most digs for the Braves with 12 and redshirt freshman Ashley Caesar had the most blocks on the team with five.
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