MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Barton women's volleyball team (9-14, 6-11) rallied from two sets down and nearly pulled the upset by ultimately fell to Mount Olive (14-13, 9-8), 3-2, Wednesday evening at Kornegay Arena.
The Trojans won by scores of 25-23, 27-25, 12-25, 22-25 and 15-13 and swept the season series from the Bulldogs.
Mount Olive's Amara Eziakonwa (Tampa, Fla.) finished with a team-high 18 kills as the Trojans pushed their winning streak to five matches after rallying from a 13-11 deficit in the fifth and final set to score the last four points and take the win.
Barton lost despite four players with 10 or more kills including a team-high 18 kills from both junior outside hitter
Allison Gambill (Taylorsville, N.C.) and freshman middle blocker
Lily Haaga (Herriman, Utah).
Gambill also added 24 digs while senior setter
Sarah Kirk (Pearland, Texas) notched her 14th double-double on the season – a career-high 57 assists and 15 digs – despite the loss. Barton held a 65-47 edge in kills but was hurt by 15 service errors.
Barton and Mount Olive next compete in the 2021 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship which begins with the First Round on Saturday, November 13. Barton is the fifth seed in the tournament and will take on fourth-seeded Belmont Abbey (9-20) beginning at 2:00 p.m., with the winner taking on third-seeded Mount Olive immediately following at 4:30 p.m.
