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Jonathan Bates | Off the Block Associate Editor
The ConfCarolinas Tournament bracket and the semifinal match-ups are set. Check out the quick-hit guide of what to know about each second-round match.
No. 1 seed Barton (23-4, 14-2 ConfCarolinas) vs. No. 5 seed Limestone (14-12, 8-8 ConfCarolinas)
Match vitals: 7:30 p.m. in Wilson, North Carolina
Follow live: Live video
Season series: Barton 2-0 (swept both matches)
Last ConfCarolinas Tournament title: Barton (2017); Limestone (never)
Stats to know: Barton holds a 12-6 edge in the all-time series, having won the last matches in a row – all by sweep. In the Barton’s quarterfinal match, the Bulldogs limited No. 8 seeded Erskine to a .110 attack percentage and outblocked the Flying Fleet 13.5 to 5. Barton outside attacker Adrian Iglesias led all players with 12 kills. Limestone defeated No. 4 seeded Mount Olive in a #CincoSets match that included two games that went OT. The Saints were led by outside attacker Geraldo Rivera who had a season-high 22 kills. Limestone leads the nation with 10.58 digs per game; libero Michal Podgorzak ranks No. 9 nationally with 2.36 digs per game Barton leads ConfCarolinas with 1.59 aces per game 12.23 assists per game, 12.91 kills per game, and a .339 attack percentage. Individually, opposite Angelos Mandilaris leads the Bulldogs with 4.35 kills per game and a .356 attack percentage.
No. 2 seed King (19-9, 14-2 ConfCarolinas) vs. No. 6 seed North Greenville (16-12, 8-8 ConfCarolinas)
Match vitals: 5 p.m. on Wednesday in Wilson, North Carolina
Follow live: Live video
Season series: King 2-0 (won in four games in Bristol on Feb. 12; swept on March 26 in Tigerville)
Last ConfCarolinas Tournament title: King (2018); North Greenville (never)
Stats to know: King needed #CincoSets to defeat No. 7 seeded Emmanuel in their quarterfinal match, even though the Tornadoes won the first two games. The Lions outhit and outblocked the Tornadoes, but prevailed in the final game after winning five of the final six points of the match. North Greenville outhit No. 3 seed Belmont Abbey, .344 to .170, and were led by opposite Aaron Campbell’s 17 kills on an efficient .625 attack percentage. King leads ConfCarolinas and ranks second nationally with a 2.56 blocks per game average. The Tornadoes starting middle attackers both rank in the top ten nationally in terms of blocks per game – Jon Wheaton comes in at 1.23 blocks per game, while Dalton Johnson comes in at 1.194 blocks per game. The one area where the North Greenville seems to have an edge over King is in the service game. The Crusaders rank No. 3 in the conference at 1.49 aces per game, while King is dead last in the nation at 0.83 aces per game.
Winners of both semifinal matches will play in the ConfCarolinas Championship match on Thursday night in Wilson, North Carolina.