GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team opened its home campaign on Thursday night (Jan. 12) but fell to Mount Olive in four sets.
The Trojans (1-0) withstood the Pioneers (0-3) by scores of 25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 25-16.
Mount Olive finished with three players reaching double-figures in kills: Hayden Frear (16), Justin Gregory (14), and Tate Sandvig (11). Jackson Lahey dished out 49 of the Trojan's 50 assists in their season-opener. Both Frear and Gregory tallied a pair of service aces, while libero Trevor Treser was the lone player in the match to record double-digit digs with 10. At the net, Holden Maryott was credited with four total blocks (one solo, three assists).
For Tusculum, Colby Landry and Deklan Wingo led the way with 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Jaden Bramhall started as the setter for the second-straight match, handing out 33 assists. Landry, Wingo, and Jake Whyte were responsible for the trio of Pioneer aces. Wingo shattered his career high in digs with nine, followed by Bramhall's five. Shaphar Grant and Bramhall both recorded two solo blocks, joined by Whyte's two total stuffs (one solo, one assist).
Mount Olive hit .304 as a team with 56 kills and 22 errors on 112 total attempts. Tusculum hit .155 with 37 kills, 22 errors, and 97 total attacks. The Trojans recorded more assists (50-36) and service aces (6-3), while the Pioneers collected more digs (29-27) and total blocks (8-7).
Tusculum continues the hunt for its first win, hosting Barton inside Pioneer Arena on Friday (Jan. 13). The match between the Pioneers and Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m.
