Charleston, W.Va. – The Golden Eagles defeated the Trojans of Mount Olive on Friday night 3-2 and then swept the Trojans on Saturday by a score of 3-0. Nationally ranked Charleston(14^th) improves to 17-1 on the season after the two victories.
 
The Basics:
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC  3, Mount Olive 2
Records: UC 16-1 (3-1 EIVA), Mount Olive 5-11 (1-6 CC)
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagle offense got off to slow start in the Friday night matchup with the Trojans, going point for point with Mount Olive. There were 21 ties and five lead changes in the first set until the Trojans ultimately claimed the first set victory 27-25. Charleston posted a hitting percentage of .267% compared to Mount Olives .462%.
 
The second set was neck in neck once again, with both sides trading points continuously. It was Charleston who eventually opened the scoring rally late in the set with a 7-2 run to close out the second set 25-20. The Golden Eagles were 17-33 in the set with a .273% hitting percentage.
 
The Golden Eagles struggled once more in the third set, allowing the Trojans to jump out ahead 8-4. Charleston responded to the deficit by going on a four-point run to tie the match at 8-8. The Golden Eagles continued to thrive as they went on to outscore Mount Olive 11-5 taking the 19-13 lead. Charleston went on to close out the set 25-18, now leading the match 2-1 over Mount Olive.
 
The fourth set kept the crowd on their toes as it featured a combined 60 points scored with 12 ties and five lead changes. Mount Olive built an early lead, and eventually led 15-11 over Charleston. The Golden Eagles began to chip away, eventually going on a 6-0 run and overtaking the lead 22-19. The Trojans then responded with a 6-2 run, reaching match point at 25-24 UMO. A Trojan service error followed by a Golden Eagle service ace gave Charleston match point. The Trojans went on to even the score at 26-26 with a kill, but Charleston once again was serving for match point after a Garret Schnitker kill. Luuk Hoge Bavel served a ball down the line that was called in by the line judge, giving Charleston the match victory, but the up referee overturned the ball as he saw it out of the back court. With the ball being called out the game was tied once more at 27-27 now, but an untimely red card to the Charleston bench gave the Trojans the advantage at 28-27. Mount Olive gave the point right back to Charleston with a service error bringing the score to 29-29. Both teams then traded kills keeping the set tied at 29 all. A Golden Eagle service error followed by a Trojan kill gave Mount Olive the fourth set victory, forcing a fifth set.
 
In the fifth set, Charleston trailed the Trojans 8-6, and eventually 11-9 after several points were traded. The Golden Eagles then went on a five-point run to take the 14-11 advantage in the final set. The Trojans rallied back with after a kill and a Golden Eagle attack error, but Charleston came out on top after closing out the set with a kill to take the fifth set 15-13.
 
The Basics:
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC  3, Mount Olive 0
Records: UC 17-1 (3-1 EIVA), Mount Olive 5-12 (1-6 CC)
 
How it Happened:
The Golden Eagles entered the Saturday afternoon match 16-1 and a perfect 10-0 at home.
 
In the first set Charleston jumped out to an early 9-5 advantage over the Trojans before they answered back with a 4 of 6 run to cut the Charleston lead to 11-9. The Golden Eagles then went on to score the next 8 of 11 points to take the 19-12 advantage. Charleston cruised through the remainder of the set taking it by a score of 25-16 over Mount Olive. Charleston was 11-23 with a .348% hitting percentage.
 
Charleston once again jumped out in front of the Trojans early in the set with an 8-3 lead. Mount Olive countered with three points of their own cutting the deficit to 8-6. The next several points were traded back and forth until Charleston took the 16-11 lead after a few Trojan errors. Both teams traded side outs until Charleston closed out the set 25-18 with a Lachlan Bray kill.
 
The third set was back and forth until Mount Olive went on a three-point run to take the 12-8 lead. Charleston responded with a three-point run of their own to bring the set back within one point, trailing 12-11. The Golden Eagles then capitalized on 6 of the next 9 points to take the lead at 17-15. Charleston continued to stay hot, going on a 6-2 run and extending their lead to 23-17. The Golden Eagles were handed the set victory after a Mount Olive service error, completing the straight set match victory over the Trojans.
 
The Golden Eagles went 40-90 while posting a .300% hitting percentage in the match.
 
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles hit the road this week and travel to Loyola on Thursday set for a 6PM start. Charleston will then travel to Perdue Fort Wayne for a 7PM start on Friday evening.