Box Score by Kevin Buczek
MURFREESBORO, N.C.-Junior Kati Wood (Pasadena, Md.) recorded a team-high 11 kills and the Barton College women's volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit by winning the fourth and fifth sets to squeak out a 19-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13 season-opening victory against host Chowan University in the Janet Collins Tournament on Friday night in the Helms Center.
With the score deadlocked at 13-13 in the final set, sophomore Jordan Lee (Wilson, N.C.) set up match point with her match-high fourth block before BC sealed the victory on a Chowan hitting error off a senior Krystin Moore (Clinton, N.C.) serve.
The comeback provided Barton first year head coach Jim Freeman with his first collegiate victory.
"Chowan played really well," said Freeman. "We were able to hang around and scratch out a couple more points than they did. The match certainly could have gone either way. I'm proud of our ladies. They competed and played hard. I'm very happy for them."
Coach Freeman received solid play throughout the lineup. Offensively, Wood totaled 11 kills and only two errors on 27 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage. Lee and freshman Melissa Cochran (Knightdale, N.C.) each had seven kills while junior Meredith Watkins (Oxford, N.C.) followed closely behind with six spikes.
Several freshman made immediate impacts including defensive specialist Amanda Grandy (Rolesville, N.C.) pacing the Bulldogs with team-high totals of 16 digs and four service aces. Setter Meka Hoover (Seagrove, N.C.) set up most of Barton's offensive with 28 assists while also scooping up seven digs.
Lee added four solo blocks and two block assists to her seven kills and five digs. Watkins blocked three Chowan attacks.
The Bulldogs served up 14 aces including three apiece off the arms of Wood and junior Chelsea Fleury (Camden, N.C.).
Chowan stayed in the contest by hitting .148 in comparison to .133 by the visitors. The Hawks had four players reach double digit kills including 14 spikes by both Tori Lewis and Karina Monroe.
Barton (1-0) will continue play in the Janet Collins Tournament with a pair of matches on Saturday against Concord University at 10 a.m. and Mount Olive College at 1 p.m.
