WILSON, N.C. - The Barton women's volleyball team (1-7, 1-3) took Lees-McRae (4-2, 1-1) to five sets but fell to the Bobcats by a 3-2 score Saturday afternoon in a Conference Carolinas match at Wilson Gymnasium.
Lees-McRae won over Barton by scores of 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 22-25 and 15-10 to snap a two-match losing streak and pick up its first conference victory on the year.
The Bobcats were led by Caitlyn Smirne (Winterville, N.C.) with 17 kills while Carlee Allbaugh (Tallahassee, Fla.) notched a double-double – 38 assists and 11 digs – in the victory. Lees-McRae, who totaled 11 service aces on the day, defeated Barton for the second time this year.
Barton was led by sophomore outside hitter
Allison Gambill (Hickory, N.C.) with a match-high 23 kills while senior outside hitter
Kaytlin Elkins (Hope Mills, N.C.) added 19 kills and 17 digs in the setback. In addition, junior setter
Sarah Kirk (Pearland, Texas) finished with a career-high 51 assists but the Bulldogs fell for the third straight time. Barton is also 1-3 in five-set matches this year.
Barton next takes on Converse on Friday, March 12, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in Spartanburg, S.C., in league action while Lees-McRae faces North Greenville on Friday as well on the road starting at 4:00 p.m.
