The 3rd ranked Barton Community College volleyball team split its four matches at the Sheila Worley Tournament over the weekend, sweeping a pair of opponents while falling to two nationally ranked foes.
Now 16-4 on the season, the Cougars have a much needed break before shifting attention back into conference play with a busy road stretch beginning Monday, September 22, at Pratt Community College. Two days later, Barton heads to 7th ranked Colby Community College before wrapping up the week Saturday at Garden City Community College.
Barton opened Friday with a 3–0 sweep over Laramie County Community College (25-21, 25-21, 25-18). The Cougars hit .221 as a team, led by 15 kills from Stasa Stamenkovic and a dominant .522 performance from Aubrey Olander tallying 14 kills and four blocks. Indigo Pruitt added six kills on .364 hitting, while libero Mina Kaneko anchored the defense with 23 digs. Ori Briger posted a 20-assist, 16-dig double-double with Mileah Neal running the backend of the 6-2 offense putting up 17 assists with five digs.
The afternoon session brought a top-10 clash as Barton fell in three tightly contested sets to No. 9 Odessa College (24-26, 23-25, 20-25). Despite the sweep, Barton posted 48 kills at a .228 clip, highlighted by Stamenkovic's 12 kills on .417 hitting. Pruitt continued her strong play with nine kills at .500 efficiency and five blocks, while Olander added six kills and five blocks. Kaneko and setters Briger (18 assists) and Janka Tolnai (19 assists) combined for 28 digs to keep Barton close in each frame.
Saturday's action began in the late afternoon with its second sweep in a week over New Mexico Junior College (25-16, 25-16, 25-22). Pruitt starred with 15 kills on .600 hitting and five blocks as Briger and Neal combined for 33 assists leading the team's weekend high .337 efficiency. Stamenovic chipped in eight kills, Olander with seven kills at .375 hitting, and Caroliny Cristiny recording six kills on a .333 clip.
Closing the weekend late Saturday evening against the tournament host and 5th ranked Northeastern Junior College, Barton battled in spurts but couldn't overcome a season worst .127 attack in falling 17-25, 15-25, 23-25. Stamenkovic again paced the offense with 14 kills and 13 digs as Briger put up 16 assists with 10 digs as each posted her second double-double of the weekend.
By the Numbers – Worley Tournament Leaders
- Stamenkovic led Barton's attack across the weekend with 49 kills, averaging 4.08 per set.
- Pruitt provided a spark in the middle, hitting .500 vs. Odessa and .600 vs. NMJC, while finishing with 35 kills (2.92/s) and 10 blocks over four matches.
- Olander added 30 kills (2.50/s) and 14 blocks, highlighted by her .522 outing against LCCC.
- Kaneko finished with 51 digs (4.25/s) with a .974 return accuracy
- Setting up the offense, Briger dished out 71 assists with 39 digs, while Tolnai added 25 assists and 10 digs.