The No. 18-ranked Barton Community College volleyball team bounced back from Wednesday’s road setback with an offensive outburst Saturday evening, producing a season-high 69 kills in a four-set victory over Butler Community College at Fleske Fieldhouse.
Behind four individual career-high performances, the Cougars rolled through the opening set 25-16 before letting a pair of set points slip away in a 28-26 second-set loss. Barton regrouped to capture a tightly contested third frame 25-23 before pulling away for a 25-17 fourth-set victory, securing its sixth consecutive win in the series.
The victory improves Barton to 9-4 in KJCCC play and 19-9 overall while Butler slips to 4-8 in conference action and 10-15 on the season. The Cougars return to the road Wednesday for a 6:00 p.m. conference matchup at Pratt Community College before closing out the regular season with two home matches, beginning Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. first serve against Garden City Community College.
In addition to the victory, Barton Athletics and College President Dr. Garstecki recognized Mitch Haney, a former Cougar student-athlete who later spent six years coaching the Barton golf program, between the second and third sets for his achievements and continued support of Cougar Athletics. <Photos>
By the Numbers
Barton responded to Wednesday’s offensive struggles with one of its most productive performances of the season, pounding a season-high 69 kills on its third-best .331 attack percentage. The Cougars also distributed a season-high 66 assists and collected 81 digs, their second-highest total of the year.
The offensive resurgence came just three days after Barton was limited to 34 kills on .130 hitting at Dodge City, with the Cougars more than doubling their kill production while committing just 17 attack errors on 157 swings. Barton set the tone early, hitting a blistering .522 in the opening frame with 13 kills against just one attack error.
Kiera Loe powered the attack with a career-high 27 kills on a season second-best .500 hitting percentage, extending her streak to eight consecutive matches with at least 14 kills. Loe also contributed three service aces, nine digs and four total blocks.
Mariam Urazbakhtina delivered a career-high 18 kills on a career second-best .469 hitting percentage, while Irmak Navruz matched her career high with 13 kills and added eight digs. The trio combined for 58 of Barton’s 69 kills.
Directing the attack, Mileah Neal distributed a career-high 56 assists while adding 11 digs for her second double-double of the season and seventh of her career.
Defensively, Jaden Katsis anchored the back row with a career-high 29 digs, while Hotone Tarui added 12 digs. Brylynn Wicker chipped in seven kills on .400 hitting and three block assists, while Paola Batista contributed three kills and four total blocks, including two solo stops.
Set-by-Set Recap
First Set: Barton used a pair of early three-point runs to build a 7-4 advantage before Butler trimmed the margin to two. The Cougars answered with consecutive points and, following a brief Grizzly interruption, rattled off five straight before adding another out of a Butler timeout to open a commanding 20-11 lead.
Barton maintained control down the stretch to secure the 25-16 opening-set victory.
Second Set: Barton carried its momentum into the second frame, using a six-point surge to build a 6-1 advantage. Butler responded by claiming nine of the next 11 points, including four straight to move in front 10-8.
The Cougars countered with consecutive points to pull even, then followed a Butler tally with three straight to reclaim a 13-11 lead. Neither team could create much separation the rest of the way, with the back-and-forth battle eventually giving Barton set point at 24-22.
Butler fought off both opportunities to pull even at 24, then erased two additional Barton set points before claiming the final three points to steal the frame 28-26 and even the match.
Third Set: Butler carried the momentum into the third, scoring the opening three points before doubling up Barton at 6-3. Loe sparked a three-point Cougar response, and following nine consecutive alternating points, Barton surged ahead with another three-point run capped by a Loe finish.
The Grizzlies later strung together three straight to reach 20 first with a 20-19 advantage, but Barton responded emphatically by claiming the next five points to seize set point at 24-20.
Much like the previous frame, Butler refused to go quietly, fighting off three consecutive set points before the Cougars finally delivered the finishing blow for a 25-23 victory and 2-1 match advantage.
Fourth Set: Butler again grabbed an early advantage, doubling up Barton at 6-3 before the Cougars answered with four straight to move ahead by one.
The Grizzlies regained control with a three-point run for an 11-9 lead and held their final advantage at 12-11 before Barton took command with six unanswered points to surge ahead 17-12.
Butler trimmed the deficit to three at 17-14, but the Cougars never allowed the Grizzlies to string together consecutive points again. Barton steadily extended its advantage before claiming the final two points to close out the 25-17 victory and four-set triumph.
