FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga - Men's volleyball took on the Mount Olive Trojans on Sunday afternoon. The Trojans, who are ranked number one in Conference Carolinas, defeated the Lions in five sets, 3-2. 

The first set was tied early on at seven points. However, a four point run for the Trojans gave them the lead, 11-7. UMO continued to expand on their lead as they scored four more while the Lions only scored one, giving the Trojans the lead, 15-8. Emmanuel got within three points, trailing 21-18 late. Another four point run by the Trojans gave them the set, 25-18. 

The second set saw the Trojans take a two point lead early on, 5-3. However, a five point run from the Lions, capped off by a service ace by freshman Robby Clary, gave them a three point lead, 8-5. UMO came back to tie the game at 12. Several lead changes ensued until the Trojans lead by one, 21-20. Kills by seniors Aleksa Lakic and Don Thompson gave the Lions a one point lead. After a kill by the Trojans, kills from Lakic and Clary lead to the Lions taking the second set, 25-22. 

The Lions carried their momentum into the third set, leading by two points early on. Once again, a slew of lead changes ensued. Then, with the score tied at 17, the Lions recorded five straight kills en route to taking the set. Sophomore Jayden Young and sophomore Henrik Westhoff each recorded a kill, while Lakic recorded three straight. Thompson ended the set with two consecutive kills of his own as Emmanuel won by three, 25-22. 

The Lions led early on in the fourth set, 11-7. Emmanuel continued to control the set as they held on to their four point lead until the score was 20-16. However, following a timeout called by Mount Olive, the Trojans rallied to tie the game at 22. Kills from Lakic, Young, and freshman Carlos Guerrero got the Lions to 25, but it wasn't enough to win the set as the Trojans matched them kill for kill, also reaching 25. Thompson recorded three consecutive kills, but it still wasn't enough to take the set as the Trojans scored five points, taking the set 30-28. 

With each team winning two sets, the game went to a tie-breaker fifth set. The Trojans carried their momentum from their late charge in the fourth set into the fifth set, taking the early lead, 7-3. The Lions got back within two after a kill from Clary, 12-10. However, it wasn't enough as the Trojans captured the set, 15-12, giving them the game, 3-2. 

The Lions were led by Aleksa Lakic, who recorded a career high 24 kills. Lakic beat his previous record of 23 kills by one, while hitting .283. Lakic also recorded 2 blocks and 14 digs. Don Thompson followed with 23 kills as the two seniors combined for an impressive 47 kills for the game. Thompson also had an ace, 3 blocks, 11 digs, and hit .380. 

When asked about his impressive performance, Lakic said, "I was satisfied with my playing today, but I was more glad that we came out as a team and played some good volleyball against a good team. It was a tough loss but that's how we learn and grow."

The stellar performance by Lakic and Thompson was fueled by a career high 59 assists by setter Henrik Westhoff, who also recorded 3 kills. 

Westhoff had this to say about the game: "I feel like going toe-to-toe with the number one team in the conference shows that every game is anyone's to take". 

Next up, men's volleyball will host Barton College on Monday, March 1 at 2:00pm. 

For more on Emmanuel College athletics, visit goeclions.com.