CONCORDIA – Perhaps it was the match the Barton volleyball team will look back on as a season-changer. Only time will tell.
What is for sure is the Cougars emphatically put an end to its 7-game losing streak. The Cougars left Bryant Gymnasium in Concordia with a 25-23, 13-25, 25-14, 25-14 Jayhawk West win over Cloud County.
Not only did it put an end to the losing skid, it was the first West win for Barton on the season. The Cougars are now 1-4 in conference and 9-9 overall. Cloud County falls to 0-4 and 3-10.
The Cougars jumped to an early lead in the first set by as many as six. But Cloud rallied to take the lead late in the set before Barton won the back-and-forth battle to take the early advantage.
That advantage didn’t last long as Cloud dominated the second set even the match.
That is when the Cougars took over. Barton went on a 12- 2 run take a 14-5 lead in the important third set and never looked back. In the final set, Barton gained control midway through the set and cruised to another easy win.
Sophomore Monique Oliveira had a great night hitting the ball. Oliveira put down 18 kills to just three errors on 37 attempts to lead the way. Laine Conceicao added 10 kills.
Carolina Goncalves finished with 37 assists. Kassi Gratton led the defense with 16 digs and Averie Warehiem three blocks.
The game at Cloud was the beginning of a 10-game stretch for Barton that consists of only West games. That begins Monday with a visit from Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons are just outside the NJCAA Top 25. Hutch is one of three teams currently 4-0 in the West along with Seward and Colby.
First serve is set for 6:30 pm at the Barton Gym.