Mount Olive, NC - North Greenville emerged out of Mount Olive, North Carolina as the Conference Carolinas Tournament Champions, defeating the Mount Olive Trojans with a final score of 3-2. NGU entered the tournament as the #1 overall seed and after sweeping the Emmanuel Lions in the semifinals, the Crusaders didn't disappoint in their first ever championship match. Set one proved to be a tightly-contested battle as neither team could pull away early on. However, after trailing by three NGU would eventually take the momentum with an 11-4 run to lead 20-17. From there the two teams would alternate points, with North Greenville scoring the final point to take the opening set 25-22. Although the Trojans led in attack percentage, the Crusaders led in overall kills. Set two proved to be a competitive one as well with neither team able to pull away by more than three points, but a late run by the Trojans would be enough to even up the match with a 25-23 set win. NGU bounced back in set three. After trailing 4-1, the Crusaders carried the momentum throughout the remainder of the match including an 11-3 run and eventually comfortably taking the third set 25-16. The two teams would go back and forth in the fourth set, with Mount Olive holding a slight lead throughout the majority. North Greenville remained within striking distance, but a 4-1 run to end the set gave UMO a 25-21 set win to force a fifth set. In nondramatic fashion, NGU would thoroughly dominate the final set, posting a .643 attack percentage with ten kills and just one error. A service ace by Gregory Torres gave NGU the final point, as the Crusaders would storm the court to celebrate the championship victory.

Results

• Score: NGU 3 / UMO 2
• Location: Kornegay Arena / Mount Olive, NC
• Records: NGU 20-5,12-2 CC / UMO 15-7, 11-3 CC

Individual

• Gregory Torres fought hard throughout the match, posting twenty-five kills. He also provided ten digs, four service aces, three block assists, and an assist.
• Diego Rosich posted sixteen kills, twelve digs, three block assists, two assists, and a service ace.
• Michael de la Cruz recorded fifteen kills, six digs, three block assists, a service ace, and an assist.

Upcoming

• For the first time in program history, the Crusaders will take their place in the NCAA Men's Volleyball National Tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 1st at UCLA in Los Angeles, California.

Conference Carolinas Championship Recap