No. 13 Barlow volleyball downs No. 16 Sandy in three-set sweep

Published 9:22 pm Monday, September 30, 2024

Barlow volleyball got the rivalry win — they just had to wait out an unexpected 15-minute break.

The Bruins were battling with visiting Sandy in a marquee matchup between two highly-ranked programs. In the third set, with the Bruins looking to secure the close out, everything ground to a halt.

The officials conferred about a potential Pioneers rotation violation. What began as a somewhat routine discussion stretched on, and on, and on. Fifteen minutes later it was decided the Sandy point would stand, making it 7-6 Pioneers (the same scoreline before it all began).

“That stopped a lot of our energy,” said Barlow senior middle blocker Addi Knight. “But we went back out hungry for that next point.”

The Bruins feasted.

They closed out the final set on a 19-9 run with a bevy of players getting involved: senior outside hitter Alexa Bell had 4 kills and a block; sophomore middle blocker Ashlynn Blake had 2 kills; and both freshman libero Natalie Bell and junior setter Cadence Austin had a pair of aces.

No. 13 Barlow won 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-16) over No. 16 Sandy Monday evening, Sept. 30.

“It feels really good to win this one, we came together as a team,” Knight said.

For the Bruins (8-3, 6-2 League), Knight had 8 kills, 6 blocks and 5 aces; Bell had a game-high 10 kills with 2 blocks; Blake had 6 kills and 2 blocks; Austin had 3 aces and a kill; and freshman outside hitter Lola Brown added 4 kills.

For the Pioneers (9-5, 4-4 League), junior Anna Orlowski had a team-high 6 kills and 4 blocks; junior Madison Karr had 2 blocks and a kill; and senior Maia Roach had 2 kills.

After the game Knight was swarmed by many young girls wanted to get photos, autographs, and just to say hi to their favorite player.

“It is a weird feeling,” she said with a laugh. “Barlow is something special, and this being my senior year, there is nothing like it.”