Volleyball Goes on the Road and Snaps First Place Barton’s 12-Match Win Streak

GREAT BEND, Kan. – Butler volleyball traveled to Barton Gym on Saturday evening and did what many others haven't this season, defeating the Cougars 3-2 (27-25, 25-19, 18-25, 19-25, 15-13) in five sets.

Butler (16-11, 8-5 KJCCC) snapped first place Barton's 12-match win streak, giving the Cougars (23-4, 12-2 KJCCC) just their second loss in 14 conference matches as well as their first home loss this season. It was Butler's third straight win in Great Bend.

The win marked the Grizzlies third straight victory, all over conference foes. They have three matches remaining in the regular season and currently sit in fourth place, just one game back from third place Colby.

The first set saw Barton jump out to a 7-3 lead before Butler called a timeout. Barton held the lead for a majority, eventually going ahead 22-19 as Butler called another timeout. The Grizzlies came out and scored four straight to take a 23-22 lead, forcing the Cougars to use their first timeout. The Grizzlies closed out on a 3-0 run to take the set, 27-25.

The Grizzlies quickly took an 11-6 lead in the second set. They later went on a 3-0 run capped by a fourth service ace of the set to take an 18-12 lead. Butler took a 2-0 lead, winning the set 25-19.

Barton rallied to win both the third and fourth sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-19 to tie the match at two apiece and force a decisive fifth set.

In the fifth set, Barton took an early 6-3 lead. The Grizzlies fired off a wildly impressive 6-0 run to take a 9-6 lead, needing just six more to clinch the match. Butler called a timeout with the set tied at 12. The Grizzlies outscored Barton 3-1 down the stretch to claim the victory.

Raven Boone paced the Grizzlies with 15 kills and three blocks. Maria Eduarda Motta posted 11 kills and a season-high 25 digs. Greta Santini has 12 kills while Sarah Sullivan added nine. Anja Milosevic had 42 assists with Laynee Brown adding 15 digs. Sydney Lentz led the team with four blocks.

Butler plays at Dodge City on Wednesday at 6 p.m. It is the last road contest of the regular season before Butler hosts Seward (Oct. 28) and Hutchinson (Oct. 30) to wrap the regular season up.