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Coach Ali’i Keohohou said he had been waiting the entire season for Mount Olive to compete at the level of play it displayed Friday.
Mount Olive finished with a season-best .369 attack percentage as it swept King 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 to end a two-match home losing streak.
Every Trojan starting pin-hitter and middle attacker hit at least .300 in the victory against the defending ConfCarolinas regular season champions. In addition, four of those players each committed three or less attack errors.
Outside attacker Jarrod Ferguson led all players with 13 kills on a .417 attack percentage. This was the sixth consecutive conference match that Ferguson had double-digit kills.
Outside attacker Tobi Azeez had 12 kills on a .304 attack percentage along with a match-high three aces.
Mount Olive finished with eight aces — seven more aces than King.
King was limited to less than a .200 attack percentage in the first two games and ended with a .179 attack percentage. Outside attackers Suetonius Harris and Joshua Kim were also both held negative attack percentages.
Opposite Julian Young in the loss finished with seven kills and hit .545.
Mount Olive midway through the third game received a red card for unsportsmanlike conduct after a kill as King cut into the Mount Olive lead at 18-15. However, the Trojans were able to recover and closed out the match on a 7-3 run, including a match-winning ace from Jesiah Orr.
King in the second game trailed by four points before rallying to tie the game at 11-11. The Trojans following a timeout went on a 4-0 run and would never trail the rest of the game.
Azeez also closed out the second game with back-to-back aces.
Mount Olive had a match-best .520 attack percentage in its opening-game victory. In addition, Ferguson led all players with both six kills and three digs to help give the Trojans a one-game lead.
This is the second consecutive conference loss for King ahead of its showdown against Barton on Saturday in a rematch of the last two ConfCarolinas Tournament finals. King had won its first five ConfCarolinas matches before losing to Limestone on Monday and to Mount Olive.
The Trojans with this victory move ahead of the Tornado and into sole possession of second place in the ConfCarolinas.
Mount Olive will continue its five-match home stand with matches against Lees-McRae and St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday.