Freshman Barton Explodes For 26 In Five Set Win

Thursday, September 14

San Luis Obispo, CA

7:00 PM

University of Washington

8-1,0-0Pac-12

Cal Poly

5-5,0-0Big West

Washington

Cal Poly

September 14, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score PDF

By: UW Athletic Communications

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Freshman outside hitter Kierstyn Barton came off the bench to pound down 26 kills for Washington Volleyball tonight, and the Huskies needed every last one of them to fight off Cal Poly in five sets in the Mustangs' home opener. Barton's previous high was 11 kills through the first three weeks of her career, but she showed what a weapon she can be tonight to lead the Dawgs to their eighth-straight win.

The Dawgs rallied from a set down, as well as a 7-10 deficit in the fifth, to get the win in their first ever visit to the Mott Athletics Center, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11. It's the second five-set win for the Huskies in their past three matches, having defeated UNLV in five in Seattle last Friday night.

Fought and fought and fought and GOT IT!! ??#PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/hXJeD93FGz
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 15, 2023

"We started really slow which was a little disappointing, but I was proud of the way that they fought," said Head Coach Leslie Gabriel. "They showed a lot of courage throughout the match. Kierstyn, I don't want to say it was a surprise, but she took some big swings in some key moments and made some big-time plays you see seniors typically make. So that was really cool for her to have some of those moments. I also was proud of Lauren Bays who did a great job digging a lot of their tips and rolls. Then Madi Endsley, all week long we talked about hitting high line and off blockers' hands, and both her and Kierstyn were able to do that tonight."

The last Husky freshman with 25 or more kills in a match is going into the Husky Hall of Fame next month. Krista Vansant, the 2013 and 2014 Honda Award Winner, and the 2011 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, had two matches of exactly 25 kills during that rookie season, the last one coming in the NCAA first round win over Western Michigan on Dec. 2, 2011.

Freshmen don't make these plays!! Except she did...#PointHuskies pic.twitter.com/7e0nViHomo
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 15, 2023

Barton didn't just score, she was efficient in doing it, hitting .436, and she did it in clutch moments, putting down six of UW's 11 kills in the fifth and final set, including kills to give UW leads of 10-9, 12-11, and 14-11. The 26 kills ties for the second-most by a Pac-12 player this season and is the most by a freshman thus far.

Madi Endsley also had a strong match with 17 kills on a .216 percentage, while setter Molly Wilson had her most prolific match with a career-high 47 assists 21 digs. Lauren Bays added 20 digs and three aces. Elise Hani also had three aces plus 6 kills and three blocks.

The Dawgs were slightly outhit by Cal Poly, .225 to .235, but had a 9-6 edge in aces and a 6.0 to 4.0 advantage in blocks. The Mustangs had a 67-58 lead in kills and an 84-74 advantage in total digs.

The rookie with 3 more kills early in set four! ????#PointHuskies // ??? https://t.co/EqdxnL5vSW pic.twitter.com/SMMleyzNbW
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) September 15, 2023

UP NEXT: Washington will have a quick turnaround tomorrow after the long match tonight, facing an always tough Pepperdine squad back in the Cal Poly gym at 3 p.m.