MOUNT OLIVE, NC – A 15-5 run in the fourth set gave momentum to the University of Mount Olive as the Trojans went on to win the final two sets in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over visiting Francis Marion University, Wednesday night (Oct. 19) in Conference Carolinas volleyball play.
 
Francis Marion drops to 12-9 overall and 7-5 in conference play, while the Trojans (16-8, 9-2) sweep the season series against the Patriots – winning both in five sets.
 
FMU will visit Converse University on Friday (Oct. 21) at 7 p.m., before making the trip to Belmont, N.C., for a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee against Belmont Abbey College.
 
Middle blocker Lily Walton and outside hitter Lexi Albright both led the Patriots in kills with 11 each. Walton also finished the match with four total blocks, tied with Kalee Peter and Beyonce Andrews. Patriot libero Zoie Larkins totaled 19 digs.
 
Francis Marion setter Kaylee Gillespie tallied 36 assists – giving her 2,114 in her career and making her 95 assists shy of tying the fourth-most assists in program history.
 
Neza Pec led Mount Olive with 12 kills and 12 digs. 
 
Seven kills by Walton helped the Patriots start the match with a 1-0 lead after set No. 1. The Trojans responded in the second set with a 15-9 set-ending run to win 25-18.
 
After going up 2-1 after three sets, Francis Marion jumped out to an 18-8 lead in set No.4 before the Trojans rallied on the 15-5 run to knot the fourth set at 23-23. The Trojans eventually outlasted the Patriots 26-24 to tie the match at 2-2.
 
Mount Olive went on a 6-0 run to start the deciding fifth set, eventually taking a 9-2 lead. FMU immediately began to claw its way back into the match, reducing the margin to 14-12. However, a kill by Amara Eziakonwa ended the Patriots' comeback hopes as the Trojans defended home court in a five-set thriller.