Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Junior libero Michael McMahon highlighted Barton College's defensive efforts with eight digs but the Bulldogs finished with a negative hitting percentage in being swept 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-17) by Conference Carolinas foe Erskine College on Friday evening in Wilson Gymnasium.
Sophomore outside hitter Michael Michelau posted a double-double with game-high totals of 12 kills and 10 digs for the victorious Flying Fleet. Sophomore setter Corey Marks added 25 assists in directing the EC offense to a .188 hitting percentage.
Erskine (1-2 overall, 1-0 conf.) begins league play with a win after opening the season with a pair of non-conference losses to nationally ranked opposition. Barton (1-3, 0-3) remained winless in league play.
Junior outside hitter Zach McCalla had a quality performance in the Bulldogs home opener with nine kills and a .148 hitting percentage. However, no other Barton player hit in the positive as the hosts finished hitting at -.075.
Freshman Chad Stanback Jr. followed with eight kills but did commit 10 hitting errors. Classmate Federico Pagliara chipped in 16 assists and seven digs. Junior middle blocker Tanner Medina contributed to three of the Bulldogs six blocks.
Barton held an early 10-8 edge on the Fleet in the first set after a McCalla spike but the visitors went on an 8-1 run to take over at 16-11. Erskine maintained a comfortable advantage until a block by sophomore Omar Melendez ended the period at 25-18.
The Bulldogs built their largest lead of the match at 18-14 in the middle set on a block by Medina and McCalla before the Flying Fleet soared into the lead with an ensuing 7-2 rally. Barton tied the frame for a ninth, 10th and 11th time at 21, 22 and 23 before EC squeaked out the two-point win with the next two points on kills by Michelau and freshman Roberto Perez Vargas.
With the score tied at eight in the third set, the Fleet won the next six serves to pull ahead 14-8. The run featured three of Erskine's 10.5 team blocks and a pair of spikes by Michelau. Barton closed the gap to four points on two occasions but Erskine outscored the Bulldogs 7-3 down the stretch to pull away to its largest set win.
Michelau finished with 15.5 points while sophomore Mike Kawa added 11 points. Melendez tallied match-high marks of two aces and four blocks.
Barton will host its second straight Conference Carolinas match in the Dog House on Saturday when the Bulldogs entertain Limestone College at 2 p.m.
