FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats surged late in each set but it wasn't enough on Saturday afternoon. Fort Valley State claimed its first set of 2025, but it could not keep the momentum as Mount Olive took the 3-1 men's volleyball final.

Jaxon Hicks and Muhammad Mbaye teamed for a tandem block and pulled FVSU (0-4) with two late in the first set, 24-22. The Trojans downed the ensuing point for the 25-22 final.

The Wildcats held a 22-21 edge late in set number two and Hicks pounded the winning point, 25-22, for a tied match.

FVSU pulled to within 24-21 with four points in a row of set three and two-straight for set four, but Mt. Olive ended each on the next rally for identical 25-21 and 25-21 scores.

FVSU recorded it best hitting set of the early season in set two of .375 where it hit 13 kills with four errors in 24 attacks. For the match, the Wildcats recorded a .255 percentage.

Isaiah Fedd lined 21 kills at a .325 rate over 40 swings. He also dug five attacks and served four aces.

Raheem Thomas was the second double-digit frontline player with 12 kills and made it a double-double with 14 digs. Hicks added nine kills with a .471 hitting percentage.

Oshane Farquharson handed out 35 assists to go with five digs, three kills and a pair of blocks. Taviian Martin chipped in three kills, two assists, two aces and two blocks, while Jaequon Henderson had three digs.

FVSU travels to Franklin Springs, Ga., next Friday, Jan. 24, for a 3 p.m. match against Barry University and a 6 p.m. contest against host Emmanuel College.

-Wildcats-