MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Taking the court for the first time in 10 days, the King University men's volleyball team nearly knocked off the defending conference champions, but ultimately fell to the University of Mount Olive in five sets.
Suetonius Harris and
JT Deppe both posted double-doubles for the Tornado.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Mount Olive 3, King 2
LOCATION: Kornegay Arena; Mount Olive, N.C.
RECORDS: King 4-9, 3-2 Conference Carolinas; Mount Olive 5-3, 3-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- After the Trojans raced out to an early 9-4 lead, the Tornado scored back-to-back points, including a kill from Jackson Carroll that made the score 9-6.
- Mount Olive would take a 17-11 lead before Jack Sarnowski recorded a kill, but King was unable to use that as a rallying point.
- The Trojans would go on an 8-7 run to close out the set, despite a kill from Harris that made the score 24-16.
Second Set
- The second set was back-and-forth for the whole set, with the largest lead being a four-point lead, which Mount Olive took on multiple occasions.
- After falling behind 13-9, King scored five of the next six points to tie the score at 14 before taking the lead a short time later on a Mount Olive attack error.
- The Tornado would refuse to relinquish the lead, getting a service ace from Harris to take a 22-18 lead before closing out the set, winning 25-23.
Third Set
- The Tornado were the ones to take an early lead in the third set, taking a 9-5 lead on another Harris kill.
- King would hold the lead until the Trojans tied the score at 15.
- A Mount Olive set error gave King a 24-23 lead, but a pair of Trojan points put them one point away from winning the set before Deppe recorded a kill to even the score.
- The Tornado would fend off three set points, two of which were because of kills from Harris before eventually dropping the set 30-28.
Fourth Set
- The fourth set was as close as the first three, with Mount Olive eventually taking a lead at 16-13.
- King would then score two straight points to get to within 16-15 before eventually tying the match at 21 off a thunderous kill from Deppe.
- The Tornado eventually took a 24-22 lead off a 3-0 run that saw Jackson Carroll pick up a pair of kills off assists by Deppe.
- Mount Olive would get to within 24-23 before Carroll ended the set with one final kill, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
Fifth Set
- King took advantage of a pair of Trojan errors to take an early 2-0 lead before Mount Olive evened the score.
- The set would be another back-and-forth affair, with neither team taking a lead larger than two points.
- After the Trojans took a 9-7 lead, King fought back to 10-10, kicking off a streak of scoring three straight points to take a 12-10 lead.
- The Trojans would fight back, scoring six of the final eight points to take the fifth set 16-14, and the match 3-2.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Harris led the Tornado attach, recording 19 kills and 15 digs to earn the double-double.
- Deppe had 17 kills and 16 digs, while also picking up six block assists.
- Kellan Kennedy also had 10+ kills, finishing with 11 and an attack percentage of .400.
FOR THE FOES
- Dominic Hagerty had 21 kills for the Trojans, along with 10 digs.
- Tobi Azeez (17), Eric Visgitis (12) and Luke Visgitis (11) also cleared 10 kills.
- Trever Treser finished with 15 digs to lead the back row.
UP NEXT
- King is back in action Saturday afternoon when they take on Barton College in another Conference Carolinas matchup.
- Mount Olive is back at home Saturday, hosting Lees-McRae.
