MOC volleyball

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on September 21, 2006 2:05 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive sophomore Corie Skislak says the Trojan volleyball team spent extra time on blocking this week.

It showed.

Sam Mitchell recorded 20 kills, Skislak tallied a career-high 10 blocks and Racey Bartley served an ace on match point as Mount Olive outlasted Pfeiffer 30-20, 28-30, 30-24, 28-30, 15-10 in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference volleyball Wednesday at Kornegay Arena. The Trojans recorded a season-high 20 blocks, including nine blocks by Anna-Marie Luft.

Mount Olive (5-6 overall, 4-3 CVAC), led from the start in game one as Mitchell tallied five kills in the first nine points. Pfeiffer (6-8, 2-5) got as close as four points, but Bartley sealed the win with kills on the final two points.

Pfeiffer led by as many as six points in game two, sparked by the blocking of Brittany Dickens and Heather Kline, before Mount Olive came back to take a 25-22 lead. But the Falcons rallied to regain the lead and even the match at one game apiece.

The Trojans broke open a close game in game three as back-to-back aces by Luft helped Mount Olive build a 25-14 lead. Pfeiffer made a late run to pull within five points before the Trojans closed out the game.

Mount Olive was within two points of winning the match after the Trojans led 28-23. But after a side out, Pfeiffer libero Brittany Poole served the final six points, including an ace, as the Falcons forced a fifth game.

"After that game, we talked about limiting our mistakes and staying focused," said Skislak, who transferred to Mount Olive from Pensacola Junior College.

Mount Olive rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to take a 9-6 lead, but Pfeiffer rallied to tie the game 9-9. After a Mount Olive timeout, the Trojans scored six of the final seven points, the clincher coming on Bartley's third ace of the game.

For the second consecutive match, Mount Olive placed four players in double figures in kills as Luft and Heather Pope finished with 11 kills apiece, while Bartley added 10 kills. Skislak served a team-high four aces, while Bartley, Luft and Joanie Werling recorded three aces apiece. Nikki Murphy had 24 digs and Mitchell finished with 23. Werling set 38 assists and Mariangelix Cordero added 11 assists for the Trojans.

Werling tallied six blocks for Mount Olive, while Bartley had four blocks, Pope added three blocks and Mitchell finished with two blocks.

"(Coach) Sasha (Gutor) worked with us on blocks this week," said Skislak. "He showed us what we need to be doing and it definitely paid off tonight."

Pfeiffer was led by Victoria Parrish and Petra Ljubicic with nine kills apiece. Parrish added a match-high five service aces. Dickens finished with eight blocks and Kline tallied five blocks to go with seven kills. Morgan Liebert recorded 37 assists and Poole led the Falcons defensively with 20 digs.

Mount Olive continues its six-match homestand Saturday as the Trojans play host to conference leader Limestone in a CVAC matchup. Match time is 3 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.