Box Score by Kevin Buczek
BELMONT, N.C.-Freshman Alex Ward and junior Corinna led all players with 17 and 16 digs, respectively, for visiting Barton College but their strong defensive efforts did not stop red-hot Belmont Abbey College from prevailing 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-19) in Conference Carolinas women's volleyball action Wednesday evening in the Wheeler Center.
The NCAA Division II Southeast Region eighth ranked Crusaders have won 17 straight matches and are tied atop the league with a King University squad that the Lady Bulldogs next visits in Bristol, Tenn., on Friday at 7 p.m.
Belmont Abbey boasts a 23-3 overall record and a 15-1 mark in league play. Barton departs 13-12 overall and 9-7 in conference skirmishes.
Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Schellenberg, who leads Conference Carolinas with 3.82 kills per set, posted a double-double of 18 kills and 12 digs to pace the Crusaders. The reigning Freshman-of-the-Year hit .424 with just four errors on 33 attempts.
Freshman Kaitlyn Micol led the Lady Bulldogs attack with eight spikes. A trio of Barton players added four kills in junior Catherine Barber, junior Jillian Sherman and Freshman Amber Kelly.
Kelly added 22 assists and six digs. Junior Melissa Cochran chipped in three blocks.
Belmont Abbey constructed early leads in all three sets before rolling to sweep. The Crusaders jumped out 11-3 in the first, doubled up the Bulldogs 10-5 in the second and pulled away 13-7 in the third.
The defending league champions hit .243 for the match while BC was held to an attacking percentage of .097.
