Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Sophomore middle blocker Melissa Cochran had a match-high 10 kills and classmate Amanda Grandy recorded a double-double for Barton College in a 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-16) Conference Carolinas women's volleyball loss to Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday afternoon in Wilson Gymnasium.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the regular season at 9-17 overall and 6-10 in the league. Barton – picked to finish 11th out of 12 teams in the preseason coaches' poll – earned the No. 4 seed in the East Division by going 4-2 in its last four league matches. Barton will travel to the top seed in the West Division, Erskine College, in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Conference Carolinas Tournament. The match is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 10 in Due West, S.C.
Queens (19-11 overall, 13-2 conf.) moved to within one game of clinching the No. 1 seed in the East Division with the win. The Royals will clinch the top spot if they win their last regular-season match at home against Lees-McRae on Tuesday while sharing East Division Co-Champions honors with Belmont Abbey (QUC has tiebreaker having defeated BAC twice).
Barton and first year head coach Jeff Lennox honored its senior class just before tipoff as part of Senior Day. The Lady Bulldogs seniors are outside hitter Kati Wood, outside hitter Meredith Watkins, defensive specialist Chelsea Fleury, outside hitter Sammy Jo Hinnant and middle blocker Shanae Winston.
"I am very proud of our seniors," said Coach Lennox. "They were dealt a tough hand having three coaches over four years. They always remained dedicated to the program. I am thankful for all they have done in helping me make this first year an easy transition. I will miss them in the Dog House!"
Watkins led the Lady Bulldogs senior class on the court as she flirted with a double-double by finishing with seven kills and 10 digs. Hinnant followed with four kills while Fleury made a match-high 16 digs.
Cochran paced BC with 10 kills at a .348 clip. Grandy supported the squad with 26 assists and 10 digs.
Queens hit .517 in the first set with 16 kills and only one error to cruise to the opening 12-point win. The Royals looked to be in control of the middle frame with a 16-11 lead before Barton rallied to take a late 19-18 lead with a 8-2 run that was finished off with a solo block by Cochran. Queens answered by winning seven of the last 10 points to claim the frame. Junior Keri Kemp had five of her team-high 10 kills in the second set including three in the final push.
The Royals kept the momentum in the third set jumping out to a 7-2 lead on an ace by junior Alexa Sparrell and never looked back. Queens maintained at least a three-point edge for the remainder of the final set before completing the sweep with a nine-point win.
The visitors hit .268 while holding BC to .070. Queens had a balanced attack with 10 kills by Kemp, nine off the arm of junior Ashlyn Dibrell, eight by junior Anna Gibbs and seven from senior Lindsey Everhart. Junior Taylor Riley set up the Royal offense with 33 assists. Sparrell and Jocelyn Kellinger led QUC's back row with 14 and 11 digs, respectively.
