CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Barton women's volleyball team (1-3) split its first two matches of the University of Charleston Invitational Friday at the Wehrle Innovation Center. The Bulldogs lost to Elizabeth City State, 3-0, before sweeping Central State (Ohio) by a 3-0 score to pick up their first victory of the 2024 campaign.
Elizabeth City State 3, Barton 0
The Vikings defeated the Bulldogs by scores of 26-24, 26-24 and 25-18 in the first match of the invitational earlier in the morning.
Elizabeth City State was paced by Jada Rouse's (Rock Hill, S.C.) double-double – 10 kills and 11 digs – as the Vikings limited the Bulldogs to a -0.30 hitting percentage.
Barton was led by senior outside hitter
Henly Sleight (Jackson, Mich.) with nine kills in addition to 15 digs and a double-double by senior setter
Isabella Ream (York, Pa.). Ream finished with 14 assists and 10 digs in the losing effort.
Barton 3, Central State (Ohio) 0
The Bulldogs earned their first triumph of the year after sweeping the Marauders by scores of 25-19, 25-16 and 25-19.
Barton hit .268 for the match while Sleight finished with a double-double – 11 kills and 11 digs – to go along with two service aces. Ream led the Bulldogs in assists (16) again and senior setter
Hailey Strey (Cape Coral, Fla.) totaled 13 assists and seven digs in the victory.
Central State's Zahra Coates (Pflugerville, Texas) had a team-high nine kills but the Marauders suffered their second loss of the day at the tournament.
Barton takes on Roberts Wesleyan (2:00 p.m.) and the host school Charleston (6:00 p.m.) on the final day of the invitational on Saturday.
