The Butler Grizzlies picked up yet another sweep in the Jayhawk Conference, as they cruised to a straight sets victory against the Barton Cougars at the Power Plant on Wednesday, defeating Barton 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-10.)
Butler dominated from start to finish in one of the most complete performances of the season. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 7-0 run in the first set that saw two kills from Kennedy Kelly and two aces and a kill from Rainey Aven. Kelly would finish the first set without an error, finishing with six kills, while McKenna Rhodes came in with five, as Butler won the first set by 11.
The second and third sets were put away just as quickly as Butler cruised to cement the sweep. Butler jumped out to a 20-9 run in set three and held on from there.
The Cougars just had no answers for Kennedy Kelly, who had 11 kills and finished the match without an error. Kelly also knocked in two aces and accounted for two blocks. Next in line offensively for Butler was Carrie Roe, who earned nine kills, and Ivy Fink, who finished with eight, while McKenna Rhodes knocked in seven.
The Grizzlies hit very well as a team, ending the night with 41 kills and just four errors. The Grizzlies also hit 10 aces with nine serving errors.
It was a strong night as well for Rainey Aven, who upped her aces total to five to finish the match, and was dominant again in the middle with 33 assists to lead the team. Aven also led Butler in digs, finishing with 14. Aven has now joined the 1,000 assist club brining her season total to 1,026.
Libero Sydney Morrow was next in line defensively for Butler, as she finished with 12 digs, as the Grizzlies combined for 59 digs as a team.
Butler improves to 20-11 overall and 11-2 in conference play, and extends their home unbeaten streak to 21 games as they have now won all five contests at the Power Plant this season.
Next up for the Grizzlies is sophomore day as they host the Dodge City Conquistadors, hoping to avenge an earlier loss against the Conquistadors when the two teams faced off in September.
