The sixth-ranked Barton Community College volleyball team showed no signs of slowing down Wednesday night on home court, sweeping visiting Pratt Community College 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-13) to notch its seventh consecutive victory.
Behind a season-consistent attack that eclipsed the .400 mark for the second time in as many home matches, the Cougars improved to 24-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play, maintaining their position atop the KJCCC standings. Pratt dropped to 12-22 on the year and 3-11 in league action.
The victory sets up a pivotal Saturday home match as the Cougars welcome 13th-ranked Colby Community College for a 6:00 p.m. first serve, with the winner gaining the inside track to the conference crown.
Led by reigning KJCCC Setter of the Week Ori Briger's 21 assists in limited action, Mileah Neal and Janka Tolnai chipped in 12 assists apiece in orchestrating the Cougars' efficient night.
Barton's offense fired on all cylinders, racking up 54 kills on .409 hitting after producing .387 and .341 efficiency in the opening sets before closing the match with an even more impressive .500 clip.
Sophomore Aubrey Olander was nearly flawless, converting nine of ten swings for a blistering .900 hitting percentage, while freshman Stasa Stamenkovic led all attackers with 12 kills, 19 digs, and two aces for her 14th double-double of the season.
Indigo Pruitt and Brylynn Wicker added eight and nine kills respectively on better than .500 efficiency, with Paola Batista and Caroliny Cristiny contributing eight apiece.
Defensively, the Cougars totaled five team blocks, led by Olander and Stamenkovic with three assists each, while Pruitt added two and Briger chipped in one. Stamenkovic's 19 digs led the backline, followed by Mina Kaneko's 14.
Record Book Watch:
Mina Kaneko- 10th Single Season Digs (507) – Surpassed Hanna Miller's 494 (2020); 33 shy of Mylena Testoni's 540 (2021)- 6th Career Digs (964) – 50 away from Mylena Testoni's 1,014 (2020-21)
Aubrey Olander- 22nd Single Season Total Blocks (129) – 4 short of Lisa Ohanaja's 133 (2007)- 6th Career Total Blocks (253) – 7 behind Christi Ensz's 260 (1988-89)