Box Score by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Senior Melissa Cochran ripped 16 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and freshman setter Riley Bane collected another double-double but host Barton College once again could not stop King University's attack in a 3-1 Conference Carolinas women's volleyball loss in Wilson Gym Friday night.
The Tornado hit .255 to win their fourth straight league contest and improve to 17-10 overall and 9-4 in the conference. The defending Conference Carolinas regular season co-champions received a match-high 17 kills from Summer Kremer.
Barton attacked nearly as well at .200 to keep the match interesting including .306 during its second-set win. However, the Lady Bulldogs dip to 8-15 overall and 6-7 in league tilts.
Sophomores Shae Schmidt and Kaitlyn Micol added 10 and nine spikes, respectively, for BC's attack that was set up on 33 assists by Bane.
Senior libero Amanda Grandy tallied a match-high 19 kills and was aided on the defensive end with classmate Corinna Morton lifting up 12 digs. Bane completed her seventh double-double by scooping up 10 digs.
Cochran, Micol and junior Brittany Edwards all chipped in four blocks while Bane and freshman Courtney Wiseman each served up two aces.
Barton held a 13-11 advantage midway through the first set but King won the next five points to take control and finish the period on a 14-7 run. Kremer had four kills in the set and Payton Tipton had two aces for the visitors.
The Tornado continued to play well into the second set leading as late as 15-13 before the Lady Bulldogs barked back. Barton won 12 of the next 16 points to tie the match at 1-all. The rally featured four Cochran kills.
King responded by quickly doubling up the Lady Bulldogs, 10-5, in the third set. Barton attempted another comeback pulling within one at 14-13 on a Schmidt spike but the Tornado won the next seven points unanswered including three aces by Lauren Willoughby to pull away before coasting to the nine-point win.
Barton held a couple early leads in the fourth and a Micol kill tied the set up at 11-up but King took the lead for good by taking the next three points. Sarah Collins supplied four of her 12 kills in the frame including on match-point to close out the road victory for the Tornado.
Olivia Underwood totaled 40 assists and the reigning league defensive player of the year Payton Tipton notched 16 digs and three aces. King served up 12 total aces including six by Willoughby. Collins added five block assists.
Barton will celebrate Senior Day in its final home regular season match on Saturday when the Lady Bulldogs entertain Lees-McRae College at 2 p.m.
