WINTER PARK, Fla. – Barry University’s volleyball team extended what was looking like two sweeps into a five-set marathon match before finally putting away West Alabama, 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 15-25, 15-7, Friday in the South Region Crossover.
It was Barry’s second win of the day, improving the Buccaneers’ record to 12-8, including an 8-1 mark in neutral matches. Barry has seven region wins this season, reaching that mark on a day the Bucs exceeded its win total from yesteryear with nine regular season matches remaining, including Saturday’s 11 a.m. South Region Crossover finale versus West Georgia.
Saturday’s match is available via LIVE STATS.
Barry’s Tasha Begon reached the 200 kills mark on the season after putting away 13 balls with no errors in 29 attempts for a .448 attack percentage. She also had eight digs and two blocks. Kristina Boncheva had 14 kills, 10 digs and two blocks – all season bests in her first season of college volleyball.
The Buccaneers, who appeared to be on cruise control after two sets, slamming down 15 kills in each and converting 79 percent of their sideout opportunities. Barry hit .480 in the opening set and .294 in the second. But after hitting .065 in the third and .147 in the fourth and combining to make good on 53 percent of their sideouts, the Bucs watched momentum shift in see-saw third set.
West Alabama (7-14) led 14-10 in the third set, but the Buccaneers went on a 6-1 run which included a kill by Begon and one of four Jasmine Serna’s four aces to take a 16-15 lead. Tied 19-19 seven serves later, the Tigers won the next three points before Barry responded with kills by Boncheva and Begon to cut it to 23-22. But West Alabama secured the last two points to win to wrap up the set.
Barry and West Alabama experienced 10 ties and four lead changes in the third set.
In the fourth set, the Tigers pounded 17 kills with two errors for a .455 attack rate en route to quick win to tie the match at two sets apiece. But Barry wasted little time reasserting itself in the decisive set, racing out to a 9-4 lead following an ace by Begon. Jayla Trombley’s kill and a Tigers attack error extended the Bucs’ lead to seven. West Alabama managed three of the final seven points in desperation time as the Buccaneers put it away.
Ivana Didanovic finished with nine kills and five block assists, while hitting .381. Jenny Trinidad had a season-high 42 assits, 10 digs and two block assists. Jasmine Serna had a season-high 24 digs, assuming the libero spot.
Sadie Beam had 17 kills and 12 digs, and Morgan Ray 12 kills for the Tigers. Callie Murphy finished with 34 assists and 11 digs.
Barry had 66 digs, while West Alabama scooped up 65.