BANNER ELK, N.C. --- Sophomore John Sobel amassed 11 kills, marking his third double-digit effort this season, while the Lees-McRae men's volleyball team fell to Conference Carolinas foe Mount Olive, 19-25, 22-25, 22-25, Friday evening at Williams Gymnasium in Banner Elk, N.C.
The Trojans (4-3, 4-1 CC) had four players with seven or more kills while Josh Donahue led all participants with 12 digs. The Bobcats (1-5, 0-4) were led by Brady Markle (York, Pa.), who led all players with a dozen kills.
LMC jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead in the opening set thanks to a pair of Sobel (Holbrook, N.Y.) kills and an ace from Drew Blecher (York, Pa.)
Following an UMO timeout, the Trojans rattled off a 13-7 run, capped off by a block from Kian Hollevoet and Andrew Sydow to take an 18-16 lead.
Sydow continued his solid run with consecutive kills to push the lead to five, 22-17.
Sydow led the Trojans with nine kills.
Sophomore Rudy Klaas (Dakar, Senegal) and Blecher stuffed a Sydow attack, 22-19.
Klaas was relentless at the front of the net while amassing five block assists and a solo block.
UMO claimed the final three points and held LMC to a match-low .042 clip to take the first set.
The Trojans used a 14-4 run midway through the second, capped off by an ace from Bret Rutledge, to take a comfortable 22-12 lead.
Klaas and Sobel blocked consecutive attacks before a Mark Shayka (Hamilton, Va.) ace cut the deficit to five, 22-17.
The Bobcats hung tight and swung at a .280 clip in the second, but was unable to complete the rally.
The final set was a see-saw battle, but UMO's 4-0 run was the difference.
The Trojans' Robert Poole notched consecutive kills before an LMC attack error capped off the match.
Sobel paced LMC with seven digs and Blecher paved the way with 20 assists.
The Bobcats return to action Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m., when they welcome Barton to Williams Gymnasium.
- LMC -
