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Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
HARTSVILLE, S.C.-Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Cochran scored the most points for Barton College in a pair of Conference Carolinas women's volleyball road matches over the past weekend. The Lady Bulldogs lost at Belmont Abbey College, 3-0, on Friday night before winning at Coker College, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs wrapped up a five-match road swing 3-2 and will enter the last week of the season at 8-16 overall and 5-9 in the league. Barton will conclude its regular season with a pair of Conference Carolinas clashes in the Dog House next weekend hosting Pfeiffer University on Friday at 7 p.m. and Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday at 2 p.m. while celebrating Senior Day.
Barton's win at Coker on Saturday night moved the Bulldogs into fourth place out of six teams in the East Division of the Conference Carolinas standings (top four teams from each division advance to the conference tourney). Depending on results throughout the early part of the week, a Barton win in Friday's upcoming match against Pfeiffer may clinch a playoff position for the Royal Blue and White.
FRIDAY: Belmont Abbey 3, Barton 0
Cochran and senior outside hitter Kati Wood each blasted 10 kills for the Lady Bulldogs but host Belmont Abbey College (Belmont, N.C.) hit .317 to earn the straight set win – 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 – on Friday night (Oct. 26) in the Wheeler Center.
The Abbey remained in first place in the East Division of the league standings at 20-4 overall and 11-2 in the conference behind another strong game from the Schellenberg sisters. Hannah Schellenberg had a match-high 13 kills and made a team-best 11 digs for a double-double. Kay Schellenberg set up the Crusaders offense with 41 assists. Lydia Schellenberg chipped in 10 digs and four kills.
Cochran hit .391 with 10 kills and only one misfire on 23 attempts. Cochran led the Lady Bulldogs with 11 points after adding two block assists.
Wood produced a match-high 15 digs to go along with her 10 spikes. Sophomore setter Amanda Grandy helped out with 20 assists.
SATURDAY: Barton 3, Coker 1
Cochran registered a season-best 22.5 points with match-highs of 16 kills and six solo blocks to help rally Barton to a 3-1 (14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 26-24) win at Coker (Hartsville, S.C.) on Saturday (Oct. 27) in Timberlake-Lawton Gym.
Coker (7-19 Overall, 6-8 Conf.) won the first set by hitting .394 in the frame but Barton's defense stepped up and held Coker to a negative hitting percentage for the rest of the match. The Bulldogs hit .152 for the day compared to .086 by the Cobras.
BC senior outside hitter Meredith Watkins flirted with a double-double with a season-high 14 kills and eight digs. Wood did tally her 12th double-double by lifting up 15 digs and smashing away 11 kills. Grandy also logged a double-double with 40 assists and 10 digs. Senior Chelsea Fleury scooped up a match-most 20 digs.
