GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Barton men's volleyball team (0-1) fell in a five-set heartbreaker to Tusculum (1-3), 3-2, in the 2023 season opener Friday evening at Pioneer Arena.
The Pioneers, who notched their first victory of the season, won over the Bulldogs by scores of 19-25, 29-27, 19-25, 25-23 and 17-15.
Colby Landry (Belle Rose, La.) led the way with a match-high 24 kills for Tusculum, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit to take the final two sets for the win. The Pioneers' Deklan Wingo (Chester, Va.) added 16 kills and Jaden Bramhall (Tucson, Ariz.) finished with 34 assists and eight digs for the home team.
Barton, under first-year mentor
J.T. Deppe, was paced by junior middle blocker
Thomas Fanic (Narbonne, FRANCE) with 21 kills and junior outside hitter
Brandon Johnston (Hawkes Bay, NEW ZEALAND) with 15 kills and nine digs despite the loss.
Barton held match point in the fifth and final set but Tusculum scored the final three points for the win. Senior setter
Moses Kresch (Hershey, Pa.) added 33 assists in the losing effort for the Bulldogs.
Barton faces Lincoln Memorial on Saturday afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m., in Harrogate, Tenn., while Tusculum hosts Erskine on Thursday night starting at 6:00 p.m.
