MOC weekend wrap

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on November 7, 2011 1:49 PM

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CHARLOTTE -- The 10-year wait is over.

The Mount Olive College men's cross country team is returning to the NCAA Division II Championship meet.

Kerry "Bear" Maloney, Ronnie Sturgill and Dalton Souza each logged a top-11 time in the 10,000-meter event and led the Trojans to a runner-up finish in the Southeast Regionals contested at Queens University.

Queens won the regional with 62, followed by MOC with 82. The Conference Carolinas rivals return to action Nov. 19 in the national championships at Spokane, Wash.

Maloney took ninth in 32 minutes, 17.6 seconds. Sturgill, who hails from Pink Hill, claimed 10th in 32:21.1. Souza, a sophomore from San Diego, placed 11th in 32:21.7.

Senior Paul Hoffman crossed the line 24th and gave MOC four All-Southeast Region runners. Teammates Erasmo Ordonez (31st), Jamar Davis (41st) and Nick Washizaki (69th) also participated.

The Trojans won the NCAA Division II East Regional in 2001 -- their last appearance on the national stage.

Long qualifies

CHARLOTTE -- Mount Olive College sophomore Chelsea Long placed fifth out of 189 runners and qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships scheduled for later this month in Spokane, Wash.

Long emerged the first Trojan in program history to advance to the national meet since Beth Schultz earned back-to-back bids in 2002 and 2003. Schultz was the East Regional runner-up both seasons.

MOC placed third as a team in the Southeast Regional behind Conference Carolinas champion Queens and Montevallo (Ala.) of the Peach Belt Conference. The top two teams advance to the nationals.

The Trojans' Amber Thompson finished 13th in 22 minutes, 44.9 seconds, while Terri Lynn Bluebird was 20th in 23:09.8. Long, Thompson and Bluebird earn All-Southeast Region honors for finishing in the top 25.

Trojans earn sweep

WILSON -- Sarah Robertson led three players in double figures with 12 kills and Nicole Powell's sevice ace on set point capped an 8-2 run in the second set during Mount Olive's 25-19, 26-24, 25-13 conquest of archrival Barton in a Conference Carolinas women's volleyball match.

Erika Conner notched her seventh double-double of the season -- 11 kills, 12 digs. Carly White provided 11 kills and eight blocks, including a decisive solo block on match point.

Robertson added a collegiate-high seven blocks. Charnel Austin dished out 37 assists, while sophomore libero Lauren Lee had eight digs.

The Trojans (16-13 overall, 9-8 CC) clinched the East Division's No. 2 seed for the season-ending conference tournament, and will play host to newcomer King (Tenn.) College on Tuesday. First serve is 6:30 p.m. inside Kornegay Arena.