WILSON, N.C. – As fans have been accustomed to over the past few years, the King University men's volleyball team played a tight match with Barton College. Three of the four sets went to extra points, including a 38-36 second-set that went in the favor of the Bulldogs. The Tornado won the third set, but couldn't complete the comeback as Barton won the match 3-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Barton 3, King 1 (26-24, 38-36, 24-26, 25-21)
LOCATION: Wilson Gymnasium; Wilson, N.C.
RECORDS: King 6-6, 3-4 Conference Carolinas; Barton 6-6, 4-5 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- The opening set was played within two points nearly the entire way.
- King held the advantage early, and Barton later opened an 18-15 lead, the largest lead for either team in the opening set.
- The Tornado responded with three straight points as Aaron Milstead recorded two kills around a block from Milstead and Joshua Kim.
- A block from Diego Marcano and Douglas Florencio gave King a 22-20 lead, but the Barton came back by scoring three of the next four points to even the score.
- JT Deppe gave King a 24-23 lead with a block, but Barton scored the final three points to take the set 26-24.
Second Set
- Kim and Milstead accounted for kills as King scored the first five points of the second set, and King later opened up a 10-3 lead.
- The Tornado held their lead there, and had a 21-14 advantage when the Bulldogs went on a run.
- Barton used a 9-2 run to even the score at 23, and the teams began to trade points.
- King held the upper hand until back-to-back Bulldog points gave Barton a 28-27 lead.
- The Tornado came back with consecutive points, the second on a Marcano kill to regain the advantage.
- The teams then traded side outs until Barton scored three straight points, the final two on an ace and kill to take the set 38-36.
Third Set
- Barton opened up a 13-7 advantage in the third set before the Tornado started to work their way back.
- King scored eight of the next 10 points, evening the score at 15 following a block from Marcano and Florencio.
- The Bulldogs responded by taking a 22-18 lead, but King came back again.
- Sergio Palmer served up an ac before Milstead and Kim recorded consecutive kills to even the score at 22.
- Back-to-back points gave King a 24-23 lead before a Bulldog point forced the set to extra points.
- King scored the final two points of the set, the final one on a Marcano kill to give King the set 26-24.
Fourth Set
- Barton opened up a 6-3 lead before a block from Deppe and Florencio started a 4-0 King run with a block.
- Barton used a 4-0 run to turn a 12-11 Tornado lead into a 15-12 Bulldog advantage.
- King came back and pulled within 18-17 following a Kim block, but the Bulldogs responded with four straight points.
- Barton opened up a 21-17 lead and eventually took the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kim and Deppe both posted double-doubles as Kim accounted for 19 kills and 14 digs.
- Deppe added 48 assists and 10 digs.
- Marcano followed with 13 kills, five blocks and eight digs.
- Noah Melendez led the back row with 20 digs.
- Milstead accounted for eight kills and seven blocks as he hit .375 in the match.
FOR THE FOES
- Adrian Iglesias led Barton with 23 kills and 14 digs.
- Nathan Chaparro followed with 21 kills and 11 digs.
- Absalon Williams chipped in with 10 kills and six blocks.
- Moses Kresch handed out 63 assists and added 10 digs
- Edwin Montaruli posted 18 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Kim matched a career-high with 19 kills.
- Melendez set a career-best with 20 digs.
UP NEXT
- King stays on the road to take on the University of Mount Olive at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
- Barton hosts Lees-McRae College on Saturday.
