By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
The 19th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team clinched sole possession of the KJCCC title Saturday evening in a sweep over Hutchinson Community College 25-23, 25-22, and 25-21.
Having already clinched a share, the Cougars bounced back from consecutive five-set losses by rallying from five down to the Blue Dragons behind a 7-0 run closing out the first set before controlling a majority of the ensuing frames in completing the season sweep.
The Cougars conclude the regular season at 13-3 in the KJCCC and 24-5 overall while Hutchinson, who has a match on Monday at Butler, slips to 10-5 and 23-14 on the season.
Barton's first conference title since 2011, now shifts its focus towards hosting the Plains District Tournament beginning Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. versus Seward County Community College. Semifinal action tentatively set for 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday followed by Sunday's 2:00 p.m. Championship match.
Phoebe Reyes led the Cougars with 12 kills on a .526 attack, one of six Cougars having five or more kills. Mya Thompson had 9 kills on a .318 efficiency with three blocks, Anna Wierzbicki with 7 kills on a .385 attack with five blocks, and Naya Danenberg, Kassidy Nixon, and Akeir Scales with 5 kills each.
The Cougars hit for .254 overall as the two-headed setter system of Elena Stankovic and Maurin Reyes moved the ball around leading to 14 assists each with Reyes picking up her team leading 9th double-double by adding 10 digs.