MOC roundup

Published in Sports on September 19, 2005 2:20 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Heidi Busch recorded a match-high 18 kills to lead Mount Olive to a 30-22, 30-22, 30-20 victory over Limestone in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference volleyball Sunday at Kornegay Arena. The win moves the Trojans in a tie with Anderson for first place in the CVAC standings.

Mount Olive (6-2 overall, 4-0 CVAC) used a 10-3 run early in game one to turn a two-point lead into a 19-10 advantage. Limestone (5-7, 1-4) then won an extended rally that saw fingertip digs by Limestone's Alison Hamilton and Trojan libero Nikki Murphy to spark a run and pull the Saints within 24-20. But Mount Olive closed out the game as Busch and Anna Luft had two kills apiece in the final six points.

One day earlier against Converse, Mount Olive lost the first two games before rallying to win the next three games. Murphy says the team wanted that momentum to carry over Sunday.

"We wanted to come out strong today," said Murphy, a junior from Marshfield, Wis. "We wanted to pick up today the way we finished yesterday."

In game two, Limestone went on a 6-0 run as Amber Wise served back-to-back aces to give the Saints a 13-9 lead. But after a Trojan sideout ended the run, Sam Mitchell completed an 8-0 run with seven consecutive service points to put Mount Olive on top 17-13. Limestone never got any closer than three points the rest of the way and Mount Olive scored five of the final six points to close out game two.

Murphy says that after the second game, the team talked about the importance of finishing and not allowing Limestone to pull off a comeback.

"We told each other that we can't relax with a 2-0 lead," said Murphy. "We reminded ourselves of what we accomplished yesterday and we didn't want it to happen against us."

Mount Olive held a five-point lead in game three, but Limestone rallied to pull within 17-16. Busch answered with three kills during a 5-2 Trojan run and Mallory Peavler served out the final eight points of the match for the win.

Peavler, making only her third collegiate start at setter, recorded 42 assists to go with a match-high four service aces.

"I can see in her face that she's feeling more comfortable out there," Murphy said of Peavler. "The hitters are also recognizing her style and know where she's going to set the ball."

Mitchell added 11 kills for the Trojans, while Luft had nine kills and six digs. Colby Mangum had a match-high five blocks to go with eight kills.

Wise led Limestone with 15 kills, while Hamilton recorded 24 assists and three aces. Julie Oleson finished with a match-high seven digs.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans play host to Barton in a CVAC matchup. Match time is 6:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.

MOC's Insley

takes 24th at meet

Competing against a Division I field, Tim Insley finished 24th out of 34 runners in the men's meet and Ashley Baldridge placed 27th out of 31 runners in the women's meet as Mount Olive competed in the Coast Carolina University Cross Country Invitational Saturday at Conway, S.C.

Joining the Trojans in the meet were squads from Coastal Carolina, Furman and UNC-Wilmington.

Insley ran the 8k course in a time of 30:55. Cason Cherry, a former Trojan soccer player who recently joined the cross country squad, finished 27th with a time of 33:04. Cory Doub (33:23) placed 29th, followed by Charles Eason (34:53) in 30th and Kevin Acree (34:59) in 31st. Kyle Lewis (35:58) was 33rd, followed by Gabriel Garcia (36:25) in 34th.

Coastal Carolina finished first in the team standings, followed by Furman, UNC-Wilmington and Mount Olive.

In the women's 5k, Baldridge ran the course in a time of 24:13.

The freshman from Hope Mills has been the Trojans' top finisher in each of her first four races. Krystal Kee (26:06) finished 29th, followed by Becky Garrod (26:56) in 30th and Mary Hare (35:13) in 31st.

MOC Sports Information