Barton Volleyball picked to defend conference championship #GoBarton

Coming off their first league title since 2011, the Barton Community College volleyball team has been unanimously picked by member coaches to defend their KJCCC Division I title for the 2024 season.

Tabbed 8th last season after three consecutive runner-up finishes, the Cougars bounced back from a conference season opening loss to rattle off 12 straight KJCCC victories including seven straight in three-set sweep fashion.  Barton concluded the conference season 13-3 and two-game cushion in the league race after its season sweeping of rival Hutchinson with its season ending in the Region VI Semifinals concluding the campaign at 25-6 and ranked 19th nationally.

Defending Region 6/District Champions Colby Community College was tabbed second followed by Dodge City Community College and Butler Community College rounding out the top four predictions.

Head Coach Megan Besecker was named the KJCCC/Region 6 Coach of Year in her first season at the helm leading six Cougars on last year's post-season recognition list.

Besecker and the Cougars return five of those selections for the 2024 season led by NJCAA 2nd Team All-America selection Phoebe Reyes.  Reyes not only was named the KJCCC/Region 6 Freshman of the Year but was voted the overall Player of the Year and returns for a sophomore season following a busy summer on the U21 Dominican Republic NORCECA Continental Team.

Returning nine overall from last season, additional post-season awardees for their sophomore season include first team selections Kassidy Nixon on the outside and middle blocker Anna Wierzbicki being joined by honorable mention setter Elena Stankovic and outside hitter Mya Thompson.

Setter Maurin Reyes returns along with a trio of Cougars hit by injuries at some point last season and return for a comeback year, setter Josie McLean, middle blocker Abigale Hardison, and outside hitter Naya Danenberg whose injury in the Region 6 semifinals left the Cougars scrambling in their season ending defeat.

Additions for the season include Panola College transfer Sara Zuluaga Nohava in the middle, defensive specialist Mina Kaneko, outside hitter Kiara Aristy, middle hitter Aubrey Olander and defensive specialist Macy Nachtigal.

Barton has a trio of scrimmages beginning Monday night hosting Division II defending national champion Cowley College at 5:30 p.m. before a Thursday trip to McPherson College 5:00 p.m. followed by a Monday 4:00 p.m. start at Kansas Wesleyan University.

The Cougars have three non-conference weekend tournaments, opening the season August 23 in Garden City followed by three days of action in Dodge City on August 29 with a September 13 two-day meet in Sterling, Colorado.

A three date homestand begins both the Cougars' home and conference opener beginning on Wednesday, September 4, hosting Butler Community College.  Pratt Community College follows on Monday, September 9, with an ensuing Wednesday non-conference hosting of Iowa Western Community College.

Returning from the Sterling trip, Barton will play five conference matches to conclude September with just one home date coming on September 21 against Dodge City Community College.

A busy home slate in October lines up highlighted by defending Region 6 and national qualifier Colby Community College coming to the Barton Gym on Wednesday, October 16.

Post-season play begins on Wednesday, November 6, in a hopeful first round hosting followed by the final two rounds taking place November 9-10 at the 2024 KJCCC Champion's home venue.

The victor of the November 10th championship will move on to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament November 20-23 in Clarksville, Tennessee.