Despite holding advantages across nearly every statistical category, the North Greenville Trailblazers suffered a five-set loss to the Bulldogs of Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina. NGU won the opening set 25-13 and dominated the fourth 25-6, but Barton captured the second 26-24, third 25-19 and fifth 15-13 to escape with a 3-2 victory.
North Greenville fell to 7-8 overall and 3-4 in Conference Carolinas play, while Barton improved to 5-10 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
The Trailblazers controlled the opening set, pulling away from a 7-7 tie and building an 18-11 advantage. NGU closed the set by scoring seven of the final nine points, with Lydia Northam recording consecutive kills before Macie Gentry finished the set with a service ace for a 25-13 victory.
North Greenville appeared to be well on the way to taking a two-set advantage after another strong start in the second. The Trailblazers built an 18-11 lead and later held a 23-17 advantage before Barton mounted a late comeback. The Bulldogs scored five consecutive points to pull within 23-22. NGU reached set point at 24-22, but Barton answered with four straight points, including consecutive kills from Brenna Hasey to steal the set 26-24 and even the match.
Barton carried the momentum into the third set, recording 15 kills and hitting .324. North Greenville was limited to a .132 hitting percentage with seven attack errors as the Bulldogs took a 25-19 victory and moved ahead 2-1.
Facing a potential four-set defeat, North Greenville responded with its most dominant set of the season. The Trailblazers jumped ahead 4-0 and turned a 7-3 advantage into a 23-4 lead behind an extended run at the service line. NGU hit .450 with 10 kills and only one attack error while holding Barton to four kills and 10 errors for a -.194 hitting percentage. The Trailblazers cruised to a 25-6 victory to force a decisive fifth set.
The fifth remained tight throughout, with neither team able to create separation early. The score was tied at 8-8, 9-9, 10-10 and eventually 11-11. Barton then turned to Mattie Wells, who recorded three consecutive kills to give the Bulldogs match point at 14-11. North Greenville fought off two match points with a Barton service error and a Peyton Taylor kill, but Wells struck again on the next rally to give Barton a 15-13 victory.
The Trailblazers held advantages of 58-54 in kills, .255-.193 in hitting percentage, 14-5 in service aces, 10-6 in total blocks, 54-51 in assists and 74-68 in digs. NGU also committed only 17 attack errors compared to 23 for Barton.
Elise Smith led North Greenville with 13 kills while hitting .286. Samantha Ball and Peyton Taylor each added 12 kills, with Taylor also recording 12 digs. Anna Fiddelke finished with 10 kills and only two errors on 22 attempts for a .364 hitting percentage while leading the Trailblazers with five total blocks.
North Greenville will return to action on Tuesday, September 29th to take on the Tornado of King University at Hayes Gymnasium.
