With first place on the line Wednesday evening at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, the 20th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team prevailed on top earning a four-set road victory (26-24, 25-14, 22-25, and 25-17) over Hutchinson Community College.
Winners of six straight, the Cougars conclude the first swing through the Jayhawk with a league best 7-1 mark and 17-3 overall while the loss drops the Blue Dragons to 6-2 in conference play and 15-8 on the season.
Barton will next head to Garden City on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. first serve at Garden City Community College to conclude its' two-match road trip before returning home a week from Saturday hosting Dodge City Community College in a 2:00 p.m. matinee.
The Cougars held a high-powered Hutchinson offense to .059 hitting, limiting the Blue Dragons to .114 hitting or lower in three of the four sets with the lone set finishing above that mark coming in the second frame allowing a .208 attack.
Despite being out blocked 27-20, Barton held a 10-5 edge in service aces led by Jada Coleman's career high five while the Cougars also out-dug Hutchinson 70-57 steered behind Clara Lindstrom's 28 digs.
Naya Danenberg posted her third double-double of the season with a new career high 14 kills on 28 swings for a .429 attack to lead the Cougars while adding 13 digs, a service ace, and two assisted blocks.
Anna Wierzbicki also had a career high night with 13 kills on .269 hitting, leading Barton's walls of denial with six aided blocks tying her career high defensive effort.
Freshman setter Maurin Reyes posted her team leading sixth double-double by collecting 13 digs and distributing a team high 26 assists while Elena Stankovic added 17 assists in the 6-2 rotation.
Series Notes:
- Barton snapped a two-match losing streak to Hutchinson
- Barton has won four of the last five meetings in Hutchinson
- Barton leads the series in Hutchinson 25-21
- Barton leads the overall series 69-35