In hopes of a return trip next month for the NJCAA Division I Championships, the No. 19 ranked Barton Community College volleyball team had a rough visit this time around to West Plains, Missouri, as the Lady Cougars went 1-3 this weekend.   After capturing a four-set victory against Seward County Community College in their first match of the Missouri State University-West Plains Tournament, the team fought through injuries and players filling new positions to limp home losing their last three matches. 

“Taylor Arnold stepped in and did an incredible job for us,” said Head Coach Patrick Hall. “The whole team adjusted very well to our lineup changes and if we just could have finished a few of the games our record would have validated their effort.”

On Friday against Seward County the Lady Cougars captured the first set decisively 25-14 only to have Seward return the favor winning just as impressively at 25-12.  The two teams then battled through set three with the Lady Cougars coming out on top 25-23.  Barton then went on to win set four 25-18 to complete the four-set victory.

In the nightcap Barton faced host and No. 16 MSU-West Plains.  After dropping the first set 25-22, Barton led 22-18 in the second but could not finish and lost 26-24.  Down two sets and having to adjust to their second lineup change of the day, the Lady Cougars couldn’t recover and lost 25-9.

After a night of rest and game planning, Barton won the first two sets against No. 17 Wallace State Community College 25-22 and 25-23.   However the Lady Cougars couldn’t put Wallace away and lost the next three sets 25-13, 25-22, and 15-9.  

Barton’s final match came against red-hot Jefferson College who had swept both Seward and Wallace earlier in the tournament.  The Lady Cougars were added to Jefferson’s tournament victims in another three-set sweep 25-18, 25-21, 25-10.

With the weekend losses, Barton slips to 22-10 on the season but remains unbeaten in conference play at 10-0.  With four matches remaining, Barton returns to Jayhawk Conference action this week with two road games.  On Tuesday the Lady Cougars will play Pratt Community College followed by a Thursday trip to Colby in a rematch of the previous meeting’s five-set Barton victory.  Match time for each contest is 6:30 p.m.

Released:  October 15, 2011

Go to Sidebar Content