WINTER PARK, Fla. – Barry University’s volleyball team won the opening match at the South Region Crossover Friday at Rollins, beating Christian Brothers, 25-9, 25-20, 25-20.
The Buccaneers (11-8) tied their win total from last year with 10 matches remaining, including a 7:30 p.m. contest versus West Alabama as one of three this weekend.
Barry, which left campus in the 6 o’clock hour Friday morning to make the drive up to Rollins, hit a season-high .410, while holding their Buccaneers counterparts to a .144 attack rate. In the process, the Bucs improved to 7-1 in neutral site matches. CBU evened its record at 10-10.
It was the Bucs’ sixth sweep this season.
Laine Cielena matched a season-best 11 kills, hitting a whopping .667. She had just one error in 15 attack opportunities, and finished with three blocks, including one solo. Her .667 attack rate was also a season-best. She hit over .600 twice as a freshman, including a career-high .692 in her first collegiate match against Washburn on Aug. 31, 2012. Cielena committed no errors in that match.
The Bucs hit .471 in the second set on 19 kills and three errors, and made good on 17 of 21 sideouts for 80 percent. It was some of the most effective volleyball Barry has played all season in that set. The Bucs hit .435 in the third set, committing just two errors.
Tashalyn Begon, the Bucs leader in kills, put down 10 balls, hit .556, had seven digs and a block. Kristina Boncheva had seven kills, and Jenny Trinidad a season-high 36 assists. Jayla Trombley and Ivana Didanovic each had six kills. Trombley finished with eight digs and a block, and Didanovic two blocks, while hitting .600 with no errors. Jasmine Serna had 13 of Barry’s 45 digs.
Barry had 43 kills to Christian Brothers’ 29.
Follow Barry’s 7:30 p.m. match versus West Alabama via LIVE STATS or watch via LIVE VIDEO.