by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Barton College – winners of four of their last five matches – will step out of Conference Carolinas play for the last time this season when the Lady Bulldogs visit Southeast Region foe Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
FMU sports information will be providing Live Video and Live Stats for Tuesday's match.
Barton volleyball fans can follow the Bulldogs throughout the season on BartonBulldogs.com and via social media including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Barton College Women's Volleyball
The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a dramatic 3-2 win at University of Mount Olive rallying after losing the first two sets. Barton completed the series sweep of its local rivals to improve to 7-10 overall. The Lady Bulldogs are just 2-7 in non-conference games heading into their final one Tuesday.
Senior middle blocker Melissa Cochran ranks in the top-100 individuals out of players from 278 NCAA Division II institutions in three statistical categories with her team-leading averages of 1.05 blocks per set (57th), .328 hitting percentage (79th) and 3.98 points per set (82nd). Cochran also paces the Lady Bulldogs with 3.11 kills per set.
Other top hitting options for Barton include sophomore Shae Schmidt (2.07 kills per set), sophomore Kaitlyn Micol (2.04) and freshman Courtney Wiseman (1.54).
Libero Amanda Grandy is also having a strong senior season leading the Lady Bulldogs with 0.45 aces per set (66th nationally) and 4.26 digs per set (136th). Freshman Riley Bane has handled the setting duties for BC and is averaging 8.19 assists per set (136th).
Barton has lost to Francis Marion in three straight sets each of the last two years.
Francis Marion University Women's Volleyball
The Patriots, who went 21-9 in 2013, have struggled this season to a 5-12 overall record. Francis Marion has lost three consecutive matches, which were all against fellow Peach Belt Conference foes.
FMU has been better at home going 4-5 in the Smith University Center compared to 1-7 on the road.
The Patriots rely heavily on junior Alexzandra Reed, who leads the team with 3.90 kills per set (32nd). Reed averages 11.82 attacks per set, which ranks in the top-10 individuals nationally.
The sophomore tandem of Caroline Boone (2.17) and Carlie Smith (2.05) also average over two spikes per set.
At the specialty positions, senior setter Sloane Shank averages 8.10 assists per set and junior libero Jessica Amador lifts up 3.64 digs per set.
Tuesday's match will serve as a Dig Pink for the Cure fundraiser at FMU.
