Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.-Sophomore setter Amanda Grandy posted 42 assists for a second straight match to lead the Barton College women's volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 26-28, 26-24) non-conference victory at Elizabeth City State University on Monday evening in RL Vaughan Center.
The Lady Bulldogs won consecutive matches for the first time this season to improve to 6-14 overall. The Vikings slip to 11-8 after suffering a second four-set loss to Barton this season.
Grandy added 16 digs and four aces to her 42 assists. Senior outside hitter Kati Wood produced a match-high 16 kills and a season-most 20 digs for her 10th double-double of the season. Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Cochran chipped in 13 kills and six blocks including a match-best four solo blocks.
ECSU opened up play with a 5-1 lead in the first set but the Lady Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the early deficit before a 6-2 surge capped by a Cochran kill gave Barton its first lead at 12-11. The Vikings tied the set for a second and final time at 12-all before another 6-2 rush by BC put the visitors ahead for good at 18-14. Barton maintained the same four-point lead at the end of the set finished off with a spike by senior Meredith Watkins.
Barton jumped out to a 5-nil advantage in the second set on the strength of three service aces by Grandy and never trailed to take the commanding two set lead. The eight-point win was finished off by Grandy's fourth ace of the act.
The third set teetered back and forth with Barton leading early before a 7-1 Vikings run put the hosts up 12-8. Barton eventually tied the set at 18, 19, 20 and 21 points before finally regaining the lead at 23-21 on an ace by Wood followed by a kill off the arm of senior Shanae Winston. Another smash by Winston gave Barton two chances at closing out the match at 24-22 but Elizabeth City rallied with the next two points to square the set at 24. A Cochran kill gave BC a third chance at match point but ECSU proved stubborn and won four of the next five points to extend the match after a 28-26 win.
The Vikings led for most of the fourth and led by as many as seven at 16-9. Barton quickly rallied to tie the set at 17-all with an 8-1 outburst that included three straight solo blocks by Cochran. Elizabeth City retook the lead three more times including late at 23-21 before the Lady Bulldogs wrapped up play by winning five of the next six points including a match-winning solo block by junior Jordan Lee.
Senior Sammy Jo Hinnant added seven kills for the Royal Blue and White and Winston tallied a season-most six spikes. Wood, Watkins and sophomore Katie Midgett all served up two aces as Barton logged 11 total service aces. Senior Chelsea Fleury made 16 digs while Lee registered two solo blocks and four block assists.
Barton tied its season-best blocking total with 12.0 team rejections and the Lady Bulldogs backcourt made 72 digs (third most this season) to make ECSU hit in the negative at -.007. BC hit at a .123 clip.
Barton will try for a third straight win as the Lady Bulldogs visit Conference Carolinas archrival Mount Olive College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
