Wilson, N.C. – King University traveled to Wilson, N.C., on Saturday afternoon for a Conference Carolinas matchup against Barton College Bulldogs men's volleyball but was unable to hold onto an early lead, falling 3–2 (26–24, 25–23, 20–25, 23–25, 12–15). The Tornado jumped out to a two-set advantage, but Barton's late-match momentum and balanced attack led to a reverse sweep. King drops to 4-18 overall and remains 0-11 in Conference play, while Barton improves to 10-12 overall and 5-5 in Conference play.
First Set: King Edges Tight Opener
King opened the match with composure, executing in key moments to secure a narrow victory.
- The Tornado posted 11 kills in the set, with Alessandro Fermani leading the way offensively.
- King capitalized on late points to close out the set 26–24 and take early momentum.
Second Set: Tornado Extends Lead
King continued its strong play, holding off Barton in another closely contested frame.
- Carson Pliapol led the offense, finishing with a team-high 19 kills on the match.
- The Tornado secured the set 25–23, taking a 2–0 match lead.
Third Set: Barton Responds
The Bulldogs found rhythm offensively, cutting into King's lead.
- Barton improved its hitting efficiency and controlled the tempo throughout the set.
- King totaled 20 points but fell 25-20 as Barton gained momentum.
Fourth Set: Bulldogs Even the Match
The fourth set remained tight, but Barton capitalized late to force a decisive fifth set.
- Tristan Brassington distributed the offense effectively, finishing with 49 assists.
- Despite 23 points from King, Barton closed the set 25–23.
Fifth Set: Barton Completed the Comeback
In the final set, Barton used a late run to secure the match.
- King battled throughout, but the Bulldogs pulled away late for a 15–12 win.
- Barton completed the reverse sweep to claim the 3–2 victory.
Barton Offensive Surge Secures Win
The Bulldogs saw production across the lineup, helping fuel the comeback:
| Player |
Stat Line |
| Lawson Link |
18 kills, .275 hitting, 20 points |
| Logan Patterson |
10 kills, .563 hitting, 14 points |
| Jacob Martinez |
12 kills, .360 hitting, 12 points |
Barton finished with a strong offensive showing and controlled key moments late in the match.
King Statistical Leaders
| Player |
Stat Line |
| Carson Pliapol |
19 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces, 24 points |
| Alessandro Fermani |
11 kills, 8 digs, 11 points |
| Kellen Woolm |
9 kills, .375 hitting, 11.5 points |
| Tristan Brassington |
49 assists, 6 digs, 2 aces, 7.5 points |
| Javier Saldivar |
14 digs |
King totaled 57 kills, 56 digs, and six service aces in the match.
Up Next
The Tornado returns home on March 31 to host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders, looking to bounce back and pick up a key Conference Carolinas win.
