The Barton Community College volleyball team was able to win a hard-fought match against Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Western Division-leading Seward Wednesday night.
Seward, ranked No. 18 in the latest NJCAA poll, traveled to Great Bend with a 9-2 overall record, including 3-0 in the West.
The Lady Cougars upset Seward, 25-22, 25-17, 20-25 and 25-22, to improve to 7-4 overall, 1-2 in the conference.
“I am feeling really good about the match,” Lady Cougars head coach Jaime Cabral said. “I am really proud of our team. Tonight, we learned how to win, basically.”
The first game began with the Lady Cougars having to fight their way back from an early deficit. Barton was down 16-12, but was able to fight back to take the lead.
The Lady Cougars were able to finish the game on a soft tap over the net by Giselle de Moura.
Seward jumped out to an early lead again in the second game, but the Lady Cougars did not let it stretch the lead beyond three points.
Barton was able to tie the game at 12, and then take the lead from Seward for the final time in the game.
The Lady Cougars won the second game on a Malia Tonga kill, 25-17.
The third game started with Barton jumping to an early lead, 5-1. Seward was able to mount a six-point swing to take the lead 7-5. Seward kept the lead all the way to a 25-20 victory.
“I think the nervousness of being up two games to nothing against Seward, a team we’ve never seen this year, but just know they’re ranked 18th in the country and first in our conference, so I think we just had to push through on that one,” Cabral said.
In Game 4, the Lady Cougars took the lead and never let the Saints take it back.
Trailing 23-15, the Saints began a comeback led by Sheina Fernandes serving. The Saints were able to score seven unanswered points before the Lady Cougars’ defense was able to take control again.
“Even though (they) had the scary run in Game 4,” Cabral said. “They come back and run seven points off. That was a good test of our mentality to make sure we can get over the hump. I think that was our biggest test for us as a group, just to get over the hump.”
Raney Okeson was able to provide the final kill to put the Saints away, 25-23.
“Raney Okeson came through big for us,” Cabral said. “I think she got the last two kills.”