Box Score by Kevin Buczek
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.-Barton College won the first set and was within two points of claiming the second and third sets but host Mount Olive College rallied to win the Conference Carolinas women's volleyball match, 3-1, on Wednesday evening in Kornegay Arena.
The 19-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-16 victory helped the Trojans move within one game of the Lady Bulldogs in the conference standings. Mount Olive improved to 9-12 overall and 6-5 in the league. Barton had a five-match win streak come to a halt, dipping to 11-9 and 7-4.
BC junior Melissa Cochran led all players with 16 kills. Sophomore Brittany Edwards and freshman Kaitlyn Micol followed with six spikes apiece. Edwards added a match-high seven block assists while Micol and senior Jordan Lee each factored in four blocks. Freshman Amber Kelly totaled 30 assists. Junior Corinna Morton made a team-high 16 digs and Micol, the reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Week, added 13. Morton and junior Amanda Grandy both served up three aces.
The Lady Bulldogs led for most of the first set and prevailed by six hitting .276 in the opener. A block by Edwards and Micol put the visitors up 9-5 early but the hosts fought back to tie the set at 10 apiece before one of Mount Olive's 15 service errors gave the lead back to Barton at 11-10. Morton launched two ensuing aces and the Lady Bulldogs maintained the lead for the rest of the period.
Barton continued to play well in the second and a Cochran kill gave the Lady Bulldogs three chances at set point with a 24-21 lead but the Trojans answered winning the next five points to tie the match with the extended 26-24 win.
The third set was another close affair mimicking the second set with nine ties and five lead changes. Barton trailed late, 22-18, before going on a 5-0 run to pull within two points of regaining the match advantage. The Lady Bulldog comeback started with kills by Sherman and Micol and a Grandy ace. Cochran then tied the game with a spike and Micol added another kill to put Barton in front. Mount Olive once again remained composed and won the next three serves to retaliate and win the set.
After five early ties, the Trojans took control of the fourth with an 11-3 surge to pull ahead 18-10. Mount Olive maintained its comfortable lead hitting .406 in the set to end the match.
The Lady Bulldogs cooled off from its hot-hitting first by hitting under .100 for the final three stanzas. MOC attacked at a rate of .197 and Barton finished with a hitting mark of .107.
Three Trojans reached double-figure kills for a well-balanced attack. Lauren Lee and Carly White each smashed 12 kills and Sarah Watkins blasted 10. Nicole Karas orchestrated the offense with 45 assists. Mount Olive also successfully defended Barton's attack with 64 digs including a match-high 18 scoops by Charnel Austin.
Barton next hosts a pair of Conference Carolinas foes during the College's Homecoming Weekend. The Lady Bulldogs first entertain King University on Friday at 6 p.m., before battling Lees-McRae College on Saturday at 2 p.m.
