Seward Falls in Region 6 Championship Match

Kenny Hernandez

LIBERAL, Kan.- Seward County Community College was unable to defend their Region VI title as Barton Community College claimed victory 3-2 in the Greenhouse. The Lady Saints lost the first two sets and were able to win sets three and four to tie up the match a two-sets apiece. The Cougars outlasted the Lady Saints in the fifth set with a 15-12 victory.

The Lady Saints had set points in the first two sets but came up short in both that ultimately gave the Cougars the advantage.

To start the first set the two teams were tied at seven all and the Lady Saints went on a 7-1 run to take their largest lead of the set 14-8.  After a kill by Ariana Arciniega Seward County held a 21-16 lead over Barton late in the first set. The Lady Saints had a 24-20 lead with a set point but could not get their offense to execute late in the set. Barton would close out the set on a 6-0 run to win the first set 26-24.

In the second set, the Lady Saints once again took command of the set with an early 10-5 lead. Similar to the first set Seward County took control of the set but Barton kept finding ways to get back into the set. after a 17-14 lead for the Lady Saints, the Cougars answered with a 4-2 run to tie it at 19 all. Both teams matched the other on the scoreboard and this set was decided in extra points. The Lady Saints had set point at 28-27 after a kill by Ana Brangioni but the Cougars came back to close the set at 31-29. Down two sets to none, the Lady Saints needed to get back on their game to force a game five.

The third set remained even throughout the entire set as neither team led by more than three points. The Lady Saints were able to close out this set with a 25-22 win as Brangioni was able to get a kill at the net for Seward.

For the fourth set was similar to the third with both teams going point for point and not allowing a big lead one way or another. The Lady Saints fell behind by their largest deficit of the set at 17-13 but went on a 4-0 run to tie it at 17 all. This time the Cougars had a late 23-22 lead and the Lady Saints were able to get hot and close the set on a 3-0 run for the set win 25-23. Seward County forced the fifth set for the fifth time this season and the second time against Barton with the last one a week ago in Great Bend.

For the fifth and final set, Seward County found themselves in a 6-3 deficit and Coach Geno Frugoli had to call a timeout. The Lady Saints came out of the timeout with four straight points to take the lead in the fifth 7-6. The Cougars followed with a run of their own to regain the lead and take an 11-7 advantage. This was the final run of points that separated these two teams in the fifth set as Barton claimed the match with a 15-12 fifth set victory.

Seward County was led by Gabriela Badilla with 18 kills and 19 digs. Ariana Arciniega had 18 kills as well and added 14 digs in the match. Seyun Park had 17 kills and 3 blocks for the Lady Saints.

The Lady Saints will have to wait for the selection show to see if they are selected for an at-large bid for the NJCAA National Tournament.