The 10th-ranked Barton Community College volleyball team continued its mid-season surge Wednesday evening in Great Bend, making quick work of a Butler Community College squad receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I poll with a straight-set victory (25-12, 25-18, 25-23).
Replicating its sweep earlier this year in El Dorado, the Cougars extended their series win streak to four and pushed their current run to six consecutive victories. With the result, Barton improved to 10-1 in conference play and 23-5 overall, while Butler dropped to 6-5 in league action and 15-9 on the season.
Following a week away from competition, Barton returns to its home hardcourt next Wednesday, welcoming Pratt Community College for a 6:30 p.m. first serve.
Barton turned in its most efficient offensive outing of the season, guided by setters Ori Briger (20 assists) and Mileah Neal (18 assists) in directing the Cougars to a season-best .414 attack percentage, surpassing .375 in every set — highlighted by a blistering .481 mark in the opener.
Stasa Stamenkovic powered the attack with 19 kills on a career-high .600 hitting percentage, adding a service ace and four digs. Aubrey Olander followed with 10 kills at a .474 clip, paired with two aces, three digs, and two blocks. Caroliny Cristiny chipped in six kills, while Paola Batista added five on .444 hitting with a block. Brylynn Wicker contributed five kills and Indigo Pruitt tallied four on .300 hitting to round out a balanced front-row effort.
Reigning and five-time Defensive Player of the Week Mina Kaneko led the backline's 40 digs with 10, while Cristiny and Briger added nine and eight respectively.
In addition to the evening's performance, the Cougars recognized former standouts Brooke DeLanghe and Jeanie Lapka, both freshmen members of Barton's 2003 NJCAA National Championship team. DeLanghe would also leave her mark the following season, ranking fifth on the program's single-season digs list with 595 in 2004.
Record Book Watch:
Mina Kaneko- 11th Single Season Digs (493) – 1 from Hanna Miller's 494 (2020)- 6th Career Digs (950) – 64 from Mylena Testoni's 1014 (2020-21)
Aubrey Olander- 7th Career Total Blocks (250) – surpassed Rayanne de Oliveira's 249 (2018-19), 10 from Christi Ensz's 260 (1988-89)