Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College women's volleyball team completed a successful opening weekend of Conference Carolinas play on Saturday after recording its second straight-set win in as many days with a 26-24, 25-18, 25-12 sweep of visiting Limestone College.
Just hours after blanking Converse College on Friday night, the Lady Bulldogs (6-6, 2-0) made it two in a row to start the league season by doing the same to the Saints (0-6, 0-2).
Freshman Kaytlin Elkins paced Barton offensively with 16 kills. Senior Miranda Miller added seven kills, six digs and five service aces. Junior Riley Bane provided a match-high 14 digs, and freshman Ashley Owen chipped in four service aces to increase her league-high season total to 26.
Limestone put an early scare into the Lady Bulldogs, taking an early 8-5 lead and remaining in the set throughout. The Saints overcame two Barton set points, using a kill and service ace by Rycki Ebert to tie the contest at 24-all. However, BC received a kill from Elkins to reach set point again at 25-24, and this time the Saints committed an attack error to close out the set for Barton.
Barton served its way to an easier second set. Owen produced consecutive aces to start the frame, and Miller collected four more on her first visit to the service line in the set, putting the Lady Bulldogs up 12-4. Still down eight at 18-10, the Saints put together a furious rally to close within two at 20-18 on a kill by Victoria Norwood, but Elkins turned the tide with another kill.
BC led set three throughout as well, pulling away with a 10-3 run midway through the frame.
The Lady Bulldogs have now won three straight matches overall, all in Wilson Gym. The homestand continues next weekend when Barton welcomes league foes North Greenville University and Southern Wesleyan University to town.
