Trojans repeat as Conference Carolinas champs

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 22, 2011 1:47 PM

• Print
• Email

MOC

Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- The nation's top-hitting team earned the welcomed tag of "repeat offender" on the Conference Carolinas men's volleyball scene Thursday evening.

The Trojans successfully defended their conference tournament title with a 25-19, 27-25, 25-20 conquest of King (Tenn.) College inside Kornegay Arena. Benedikt Schirmers, the league's freshman-of-the-year, posted 17 kills and junior John David Nunns earned MVP honors with a 15-kill effort in the straight-set victory.

A full-time starter this season, Nunns played in just eight of 21 matches a year ago. He had never played volleyball until college.

"To have never played volleyball until recently, and then to be named MVP, it's very surreal," said Nunns.

Tim Ebbecke added nine kills for the Trojans, who recorded a .478 hitting percentage. MOC improved to 15-3 all-time in regular-season and conference tournament play since 2010.

The Tornadoes (11-9 overall) upset Mount Olive in five sets on April 8.

Nunns and Schirmers admitted the loss may have played a role in the final regular-season contest for both teams.

"We were trying to just stay focused on the match ahead of us," said Nunns. "But that loss was definitely motivation for us tonight."

"We made a lot of mistakes in the last match," said Schirmers, a 6-foot-6 hitter from Rottenburg, Germany. "We did a better job tonight of not making mistakes."

Trojan libero Dan Arnold recorded eight digs and earned the distinction of being part of two conference championship teams. Arnold is a member of the Mount Olive men's track and field team, which won the Conference Carolinas championship Saturday.

Jackson Mettechecchia, who leads the nation in assists, finished with 46 assists to go with a match-high nine digs.

MOC concluded the year 20-7 overall.