Box Score by Cory Guinn
TIGERVILLE, S.C. – For the first time since the 1991 season, the Barton College women's volleyball team can call itself a regular season champion. The Lady Bulldogs defeated North Greenville University 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18) on Saturday afternoon and claimed the 2016 Conference Carolinas North Division Championship.
Barton ends the regular season 19-8 overall and 14-2 in league play, earning itself the top overall seed in the upcoming Conference Carolinas Tournament. North Greenville fell to 18-12 and 7-9 against conference opponents but still has a spot in the postseason.
The first set of the day did not go how Barton planned as North Greenville hit .265 and forced seven BC hitting errors for a three-point win on its home floor.
However, BC rebounded with a 25-18 win in the second set to tie the match a 1-1 after hitting .406 as a unit. The Royal Blue and White remained in control for the final two sets of play, winning by eight and seven points, respectively.
Sophomore Hayley Marshburn led the attack for BC, registering a career-high 26 kills to go along with a .344 hitting percentage and eight kills. Senior Mariana Kedzia finished with 13 kills and 17 assists for her 10th double-double of the year as well as four service aces, while fellow senior Kaitlyn Micol had 11 kills of her own.
Redshirt-sophomore libero Riley Bane turned in 21 digs on defense, while sophomore setter Angelica Acevedo had her 13th double-double of the year with a career-high 57 assists and 19 digs.
Barton's season continues on Tuesday, Nov. 8 as the Lady Bulldogs play host to the Crusaders in a rematch at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Carolinas Quarterfinals in Wilson Gymnasium.
