Barton's Kaneko earns season's initial KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week honor #GoBarton

Mina Kaneko of the 9th-ranked Barton Community College volleyball team has been named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division I Defensive Player of the Week.

The sophomore libero, a 2nd Team All-KJCCC selection last season, averaged 5.43 digs per set to help Barton sweep all four matches at the season-opening Garden City Scooter's Coffee Invitational.

Kaneko also added nine service aces and 16 assists across 14 sets, earning her second career KJCCC weekly honor after previously receiving the award in Week 11 of last season.

Most recently, Kaneko recorded another 22 digs Tuesday in El Dorado leading the Cougar backline in Barton's conference opening straight set sweep at Butler improving to 5-0 on the early season.

Barton now turns its attention to a grueling three-day stretch in Dodge City against four ranked opponents. The Cougars face No. 8 Missouri State-West Plains at 7:30 p.m. tonight, then begin play Friday in the Victory Electric Classic against No. 14 Eastern Arizona College at 10:00 a.m. and Lee College at 4:00 p.m. Barton closes the weekend Saturday with a 10:30 a.m. matchup against No. 2 Miami Dade and a 1:30 p.m. finale versus No. 11 New Mexico Military Institute.