Box Score by Cory Guinn
BELMONT, N.C. – The Barton College women's volleyball team forced a fifth and deciding set against Belmont Abbey College but fell 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 24-26, 26-24, 15-6) in the team's first conference road match of the season.
The loss was Barton's first Conference Carolinas defeat of the year as the team fell to 5-7 overall and 2-1 in league play. Belmont Abbey improved to 5-8 overall with a 4-1 mark in the conference.
The Crusaders led 1-0 early after a 25-23 win in the first set before the Lady Bulldogs were able to rebound with a 25-23 win in the second set to tie the match.
Barton won the third set by another 25-23 decision after back-to-back kills from sophomores Hayley Marshburn and Allie Cullens. However, Belmont Abbey was able to overcome a BC comeback effort in the fourth set for a 27-25 win. The Lady Crusaders got out to an early 6-0 advantage in the fifth and final set, cruising to a 15-6 win to seal the match.
Senior outside hitter Mariana Kedzia led all players with a season-high 19 kills and a .327 hitting percentage to go along with 15 digs. Fellow senior Kaitlyn Micol followed with 15 kills, while Marshburn had 13 kills of her own. Sophomore setter Angelica Acevedo finished with 40 assists and 17 digs as redshirt-sophomore libero Riley Bane had a career-high 29 kills in the loss.
Barton travels to Pfeiffer University tomorrow for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Falcons in the second match of a five-game road trip.
