By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
Shaking off a slow start, once the 7th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team got heated up it was lights out for Garden City Community College as the Cougars rolled to a straight set victory (25-19, 25-21, 25-15) in the semifinal round of the Region 6/Plains District Tournament.
The Cougars avenge last season's upset loss in the same round, now advancing to Sunday's 2:00 p.m. title match against 10th ranked Colby Community College as the Trojans defeated Dodge City Community College in a hard-fought comeback 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 27-25) in the later evening semifinal.
Barton improves to 30-2, meeting up with the now 26-3 Trojans in a rubber match of the season's meetings with an automatic NJCAA Division I Tournament bid additionally awarded to the winner.
Ticket prices for the tournament are $10 per person each day with ages 5 and under admitted free. Complete information can be found at BartonSports.com or at kjccc.org.
Phoebe Reyes led the Cougars with 13 kills on a .303 attack as Anna Wierzbicki had a .462 efficient night for 7 kills on 13 swings. Kassidy Nixon also had 7 kills to go along with 14 digs, 3 aces, and 3 blocks.
Overall, Barton posted a .218 efficient night compared to just .054 for the Broncbusters, the Cougars' offense keyed by Elena Stankovic's 20 assists with Phoebe Reyes putting up 10 assists.
Mina Kaneko led the backline with 15 digs as Aubrey Olander four assisted led the squad's block effort.