Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Sophomore setter Jordan Robison filled up the box score with 33 assists, six kills, six digs and five block assists for host Barton College in a 3-0 (25-21, 34-32, 25-22) Conference Carolinas men's volleyball loss to visiting Limestone College on Friday night in Wilson Gymnasium.
Sophomore Eric Zaun led the Saints to the victory with 16 kills as Limestone improved to 10-10 overall and 7-6 in league skirmishes. Sophomore Zach McCalla matched Zaun with 16 kills for the Bulldogs but Barton (1-17, 1-11) was unable to complete the season sweep against Limestone.
Freshman Cameron Hudson had another strong match for BC with 12 kills, five digs and two of the Bulldogs three aces.
Zaun led four double-digit scorers for Limestone with 18.5 points. Senior Scott Warren (nine kills, three aces, five block assists) followed with 14.5 points. Junior Andrew Miller (eight combined blocks and seven kills) added 11.5 points and senior Kevin Hart (nine kills and three block assists) chipped in 10.5 points.
The Saints combined for a season-high 14 team blocks.
Barton used a 7-3 run midway through the first set to take an 18-15 lead on a sophomore Ladislav Lelkes solo block. After a called timeout, Limestone rallied with the next four points to move in front 19-18. The Bulldogs were able to tie the score for an 11th and 12th time including 21-21 on a kill by sophomore Brennan O'Connor but the Saints would score the period's final four points to take the 1-0 lead. Zaun blasted seven spikes on nine swings to help LC clinch the opening set.
The dramatic middle stanza featured 20 ties as Barton played its longest set in program history. The Bulldogs had several chances at tying the match serving for set point on five occasions but Limestone avoided the letdown each time before finally taking the commanding 2-nil lead on its fifth try at set point. Warren served up an ace to put away end the scoring at 34-32. Both teams hit over .300 over that span as they traded points.
With the Saints gaining momentum heading into the third, Barton committed 10 of its 21 hitting errors allowing Limestone to complete the triumph in straight sets. LC never trailed in the final frame but the Bulldogs kept fighting never fell behind by more than four points. Limestone made six of its 14 team blocks in the third before a Miller kill ended the match.
The Saints hit .289 with senior Andrew Pile registering 40 assists. The Bulldogs had their third best hitting match of the season attacking at 21.6%.
Sophomore libero Nick Scalia lifted up a match-high 10 digs for the hosts.
Barton next hosts NCAA Division III foe Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
