Quick start leads Cougar Volleyball to short work of Marshalltown

Less than twenty-four hours from a five-set comeback victory at Butler Community College, the Barton Community College volleyball team showed little hangover from the big road conference win in cruising to a three set sweep over Marshalltown Community College 25-14, 25-15, and 25-20.   The Cougars got off to commanding leads in each set Wednesday night at the Barton Gym to improve to 5-16 on the season while Marshalltown falls to 7-11.  Playing seven matches in six days, Barton will have a much needed break before traveling to Arkansas City on Monday, September 29, to take on Division II No. 10 ranked Cowley College.

Unlike the match at Butler, Barton got off to a great start to begin the match building a 7-1 lead.  Following a Marshalltown timeout, the Tigers reeled off four straight to get within striking distance.  Behind the five kill performance by freshman Emily Deterding and .417 attack percentage by the Cougars, Barton all but ended the Tigers hopes with a decisive 7-0 run to lead 19-11 and hold off Marshalltown 25-14.

"This was one of those nights where things went right from the moment we left the locker room until the final whistle," said Head Coach Phil Shoemaker. "Great offensive performances, especially from Emily and Kim."

A 6-0 start by the Cougars again put Marshalltown on their heels to begin the second set to prompt an early timeout.  Scoring the first two points out of the break, the Tigers simply couldn't slow down the Cougars as the nine-kill combination of Kim Hockley and Tahje Ochs helped Barton build a 14-6 lead to cruise to its second consecutive decisive win in the 25-15 score.

"Our ball control was very strong and the setters did a very good job with delivery and distribution," Shoemaker said.  "Serving took Marshalltown out of system most of the night."

Like a broken record, the Cougars immediately put doubts of any Tiger comeback racing out to a 5-0 lead.   Marshalltown cut the lead to 10-6 only to have the Cougars score seven of the next ten points in building a 17-9 advantage.   However the Tigers weren't ready to fold up the tent reeling off four straight to make it interesting at 17-13.  Following a Barton timeout, the Cougars scored the next two points and even though the Tigers scored the next three, Barton did just enough down the stretch to win 25-20.  

Hockley had a solid overall game leading a .289 Barton attack on the evening with eight kills and five blocks.  Deterding was close behind with seven kills putting down .636 of her attacks to go along with two aces and one assisted block.  Jenna Reid and Jordan Edelman provided a pivotal force in the middle combining for eleven kills and seven blocks while freshman Abigayle Rziha spear headed the attack with twenty assists in a backup role while starter Casey Friesen contributed ten in limited court time. 

"I could not be much happier as it was a good ending to our week," Shoemaker reflected. "The players will get a full two days off and should be excited and ready to go Monday at Cowley."

With the break in the schedule, the Cougars will prepare for a rematch with Cowley as the Tigers have taken the first two meetings  Cowley disposed of Barton in the second match of the season 3-1 at the Iowa Western Tournament then a week later defeated the Cougars by the same score at the Barton Gym.   The 11-5 Tigers sit atop the Jayhawk Eastern Division with a 5-0 record while Barton lies in sixth place of the Western Division at 3-3.  First serve at the William S. Scott Auditorium is set for 6:30 p.m.