Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Sophomore setter Amanda Grandy tallied 32 assists and 12 digs before making a solo block on match point to propel the Barton College women's volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18) non-conference victory over Elizabeth City State University in the Dog House on Wednesday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs had a well distributed attack with senior Kati Wood blasting a match-high 12 kills and senior Meredith Watkins and sophomore Melissa Cochran each recording 10 spikes.
The victory in Barton's home opener provided first-year head coach Jeff Lennox with his first collegiate women's volleyball win. The Lady Bulldogs improved to 1-5 and the Vikings exited at 3-4.
Coach Lennox said, "I am very proud of the team tonight. We are making great progress as we develop our identity. It feels great to get our first win at home especially as we move into conference play this weekend."
Two consecutive service aces by senior Chelsea Fleury knotted the first set at 14-14 before ECSU took its final lead of 17-14 by winning the next three points. Barton took advantage of six consecutive Vikings errors on sophomore Katie Wilkinson's service rotation and jumped ahead 22-17 with eight straight points before settling for the five-point win in the opening frame.
A kill by Wood tied the second set for the eighth and final time at 21-up before four successive errors by the Lady Bulldogs allowed Elizabeth City to tie the match at 1-1.
In another tightly contested set, Barton finally broke free of an 18-18 tie with four straight points that included a pair of kill by Cochran before closing the third set on a 7-2 run.
The Lady Bulldogs kept the momentum in the fourth set by winning the first four points and taking a quick 7-1 advantage capped by a kill by Watkins. Barton stayed in front throughout the final frame before Grandy's solo block completed play.
Sophomore libero Corinna Morton led BC's defensive efforts with 22 digs. Wood and Watkins made 13 and 10 digs, respectively, to complete a pair of double-doubles. Fleury paced Barton's service game with three of the squad's 10 aces.
Morghan Stallings and Whitney Green led the Vikings with 10 kills each. Danielle Kiser chipped in 25 assists and Krystal Sawyer recorded 15 digs.
Barton will next travel to Due West, S.C., to begin Conference Carolinas play at Erskine College on Friday at 7 p.m.
