In a recent release from the KJCCC, Nathalia Gouveia and Olivia Naccarato of the Barton Community College volleyball team have been voted the conference's Players of the Week for week seven of the season. The awards bring the Cougars' weekly haul to five this season as both Gouveia and Naccarato have been selected twice being joined by defensive specialist Lydia Konrade.
Earning the defensive honor back in week two, Gouveia earns the offensive honor for her performances last week powering the Cougars to two victories. Averaging 5.37 kills per set in hitting .344 for the week, Gouveia was a key performer leading the Cougars. Gouveia began the week with a seventeen kill .500 attack and nine digs to just miss out on a double-double in the Cougars' sweep of Dodge City avenging a five-set loss to the Conquistadors early in the conference season. This past Friday the sophomore from Brazil was the go-to person, setting career highs with twenty-six kills on a whopping sixty swings while recording her ninth double-double of the season with fourteen digs.
Like Gouveia, Naccarato is also a two-time selection having won the offensive award in week three and now adds the defensive honor to her accomplishments. The middle hitter didn't have a banner offensive week, but defensively, the sophomore played a key role controlling the center of the floor this past week in the Cougars' sweep of conference opponents. In a short three sets against Dodge City, Naccarato had five blocks then added another seven this past Friday at Butler in a five set thriller. The Mulvane native stands third in the Jayhawk in blocks per set helping Barton to its best season since 2011 currently at 21-5 and 8-3 in conference play.
Barton will next head to first place Colby Community College on Wednesday for a key match with the Trojans. The Cougars currently stand in fourth just a half game out from second place in the rugged West Division while Colby will be trying to move closer to securing the Region VI top seed sitting atop the standings at 10-1 and 19-4. First serve at the Community Building set for 6:30 p.m.
The Cougars' next home match will come on Monday, October 17, against Pratt Community College in a 6:30 p.m. first serve. Dedicated to the sophomore class playing their final regular season game in the Barton Gym, the Barton Athletic Department will also be hosting a "Meet the Cougars" event. Members of the men's and women's basketball team will be introduced between the second and third sets of the volleyball match, as well as, basketball schedule posters will be on hand with players being available for autograph signings.