BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's volleyball team advanced to their second straight Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship final with a sweep of Barton College on Saturday night. The second-seeded Tornado came back to win the second set, and eventually topped the sixth-seeded Bulldogs 3-0.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 2 King 3, No. 6 Barton 0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-16)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 16-2; Barton 5-10
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- King used a 5-1 run to take a 7-5 lead in the early going before gradually extending their lead.
- The Tornado put the set out of reach with six straight points. Julie Ward posted a pair of kills on the run while Georgia Davis contributed to a pair of blocks, helping King to an 18-11 lead.
- King then went on to take the set 25-16.
Second Set
- Barton held the advantage in the early going of the second set, and took a 13-11 lead that forced a King timeout.
- The Tornado then came back and evened the score at 14 before taking a 19-18 lead on consecutive kills from Ward and Brittney Ramsey.
- However, Barton regained a 22-19 lead with four straight points.
- Three straight King points evened the score before a Bulldog point.
- King then closed out the 25-23 win with three straight points, capped by a Hannah Rogers service ace.
Third Set
- Back-to-back points gave King an early 10-8 lead before the Tornado put the set out of reach in the middle of the frame.
- Ward and Kayley Holtzclaw combined for back-to-back kills and Blankenship served up an ace on the 4-0 run that gave King a 16-11 lead.
- King then closed the match on a 6-0 run with Ward at the service line.
- Blankenship gave King a chance at match point with a kill before a Bulldog miscue gave King the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ward led King with 14 kills, seven digs and three aces.
- Blankenship followed with 10 kills and a .304 attack percentage. She added eight digs.
- Ramsey accounted for eight kills, .353 attack percentage and five blocks.
- Katie Harless handed out 24 assists while Abigail Shaffer posted 14 digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Allison Gambill led Barton with nine kills and four digs.
- Caroline Shoonover followed with seven kills and five digs.
- Sarah Kirk handed out 22 assists and Madison Greene recorded 14 digs.
- The King defense held Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Kaytlin Elkins to six kills and nine digs.
UP NEXT
- King takes on top-seed and undefeated North Greenville University in the championship match on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
