Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
MURFREESBORO, N.C.-Senior outside hitter Kati Wood and sophomore middle blocker Melissa Cochran combined for 28 kills for visiting Barton College in a 3-2 (18-25, 26-28, 25-16, 25-16, 15-10) season-opening loss at Chowan University on Saturday afternoon in the Helms Center.
The Lady Bulldogs (0-1) won the first two sets but the Hawks (1-0) prevented Barton first year head coach Jeff Lennox his first win by making an improbable comeback by winning the final three frames.
"It was great to get the nerves out and get that first match under our belts," said Coach Lennox. "I'm really excited about our potential and all the season will bring."
Wood spiked a team-high 15 kills with only three errors to pace the Royal Blue and White. Wood completed a double-double with 11 digs. Cochran followed with 13 kills and a game-high six combined blocks.
Senior Meredith Watkins flirted with her own double-double with nine kills and 13 digs. Watkins also led all players with four service aces.
Defensively, sophomore Corinna Morton tallied a match-high 18 digs and classmate Amanda Grandy provided 44 assists in her first match moving from libero to setter.
Barton dominated the first set by hitting over .400 before winning by seven. The Bulldogs then stormed back from a late 21-16 deficit in the second set with a 12-5 surge to complete an extended 28-26 win. Cochran finished off the rally with a kill to give the Lady Bulldogs a 2-nil advantage.
Chowan started the retaliation by jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the third before cruising to a 25-16 win. BC led midway through the fourth, 14-13, on a kill by Wood but the Hawks flew ahead with the next four points and the soared to another nine-point win by closing the stanza on a 12-2 run.
The hosts maintained the momentum heading into the decisive set by winning the first six points. Chowan was then able to maintain a comfortable cushion in the shorted set to close out play.
Karina Monroe paced the Hawks with a match-high 17 kills and Nikira Fults pounded down 15. Callie Armistead set Chowan's offense with 48 assists.
Barton will next play four matches in the Anderson University Invitational on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 7-8.
