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The preseason favorite to win the ConfCarolinas will play a significantly reduced non-conference schedule.
Mount Olive recently revealed its 2021 schedule that features two non-conference matches — the fewest non-conference matches slated so far for a ConfCarolinas team during the upcoming season.
The team’s only non-conference matches will be a home-and-home series against in-state opponent Queens. The Trojans will open the season Jan. 29 at home against the Royals, and then the two teams will conclude the series on March 18 at Queens.
This reduced non-conference schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic is eight fewer non-conference matches than the Trojans played in the abbreviated 2020 season.
The seven ConfCarolinas schools that have released their 2021 schedules are all slated to play fewer non-conference matches compared to last season. Barton has the second-fewest non-conference matches for a ConfCarolinas team with five — three more matches than Mount Olive.
Mount Olive enters the upcoming season after receiving six of eight first-place votes to finish atop the ConfCarolinas Preseason Poll that was released earlier this month.
Among the starters returning for the Trojans includes outside attacker Tobi Azeez. The Australian native as a sophomore last season was in the nation’s top 20 averaging 3.63 kills per game and in the nation’s top 40 with a .309 attack percentage.
Mount Olive at the time the 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic was in second place in the ConfCarolians and on a four-match winning streak.
Mount Olive 2021 schedule
Jan. 29 vs. Queens
Feb. 5 vs. Emmanuel
Feb. 6 vs. Erskine
Feb. 12 at King
Feb. 13 at Lees-McRae
Feb. 19 at Belmont Abbey
Feb. 20 at North Greenville
Feb. 24 vs. Barton
Feb. 26 at Emmanuel
Feb. 27 at Erskine
March 5 vs. Lees-McRae
March 6 vs. King
March 18 at Queens
March 26 vs. Belmont Abbey
March 27 vs. North Greenville
April 6 at Barton