News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008

COMETS GO 5-1 IN SPRINGFIELD TOURNAMENT

The Cottey College Comets got a lot of volleyball in over the weekend, playing in a tournament sponsored by Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. The Comets went 5-1 on the weekend, winning four matches on Friday and going 1-1 on Saturday, losing only in the championship match. The opponents and scores were as follows. On Friday, the Comets won against Kentucky Christian College 25-20, 28-26, 25-15; won against Central Baptist College 25-22, 25-11, 25-19; won against Baptist Bible College 25-11, 25-10, 27-29, 25-16; and won against Southwest Christian University 25-15, 25-10, 25-14. On Saturday the Comets split a pair, defeating Central Baptist College 25-14, 25-16, 25-10; but losing to Stephens College 13-25, 13-25, 25-27.

The Comets got a tough draw right off the bat on Friday with Kentucky Christian College. The first game was close, but the second game was a battle as the Comets had to go to 28 points just to secure the win. Coach Foreman said she was glad to play them while everyone was still fresh.

Team leaders for the Comets in that match were Janelle Crowell with four aces, Ashleigh Bryson with 25 assists, Lauren Jenkins with 12 kills, Anna Cruse with five blocks, and Jesse Jargowsky with 17 digs.

A squabbling team played right into the Comets' hands in the second matchup of the day.

"Central Baptist was having some trouble on their own team, and I think that gave us the upper hand on getting a good start on them," said Foreman. "It seemed like the team was yelling at each other, and never could really group together to rally against my team."

The three-game sweep was led by Carmen Kintz with six aces, Bryson with 31 assists, Jenkins with nine kills, Cruse with eight blocks, and Jargowsky with 17 digs.

The Comets faced the host Baptist Bible College in the third contest of the day. One pattern the Comets have fallen into this season is letting up a bit in the second game if they won the first. Coach Foreman challenged her team to focus on game two in particular in this match. Cottey looked great in game two, dominating 25-10, but then letting up just enough in game three to let the Lady Patriots steal one away.

"For our game three in match three against Baptist Bible, my players were over in our huddle not staying focused on the match at hand, and the coach of the Baptist Bible team was giving his ladies a motivational speech," explained Foreman. "Losing game three was a result of that lack of focus. Having played two matches already, and having another one after Baptist Bible, we really didn't need to have to go one more game on the day."

Still a win is a win, and leading the Comets were Kintz with 11 aces, Bryson with 38 assists, Kaley Rogers with 13 kills, Cruse with six blocks, and Jargowsky with 18 digs.

For the final contest of the day, Cottey took on Southwest Christian University, and made short work of it, facing the last place team in that pool.

"My impact players (subs) got to get in some really good playing time in this match, as my starting line-up was beginning to fade on me," said Foreman. "By the time the matches for the day were over, my players were very depleted, and needed to be refueled quickly. I was very proud of the entire team and their efforts for the first day. We finished Friday's matches undefeated."

Finishing the evening, the team was led by Bryson with seven aces and 22 assists, Rogers with seven kills, Jargowsky with seven digs, and Cruse and Lindsey Monceret tied with two blocks each.

On Saturday, the Comets faced Central Baptist once again, this time in the semi-finals of the tournament. Once again Cottey was able to play its game and sweep all three games. Proving that Friday was no fluke, the Comets held Central to even fewer points than the day before.

Jenkins and Bryson had four aces each, Bryson added 15 assists and Jenkins contributed 10 kills, Cruse had five blocks, and Kintz had 21 digs.

That left Cottey in the championship match against Stephens College. Just a week earlier, Stephens had defeated the Comets in four games in Columbia, and Cottey was anxious for a rematch. Maybe too anxious.

"My players were primed and ready to take on Stephens, and get the revenge from losing to them in four at their place on last Saturday's match in Columbia," said Foreman. "However, Stephens College was not going to let it be easy for us. Have you ever wanted something so bad, gone out to get it, thought you were totally ready for it, and then nothing would go right for you in accomplishing that goal? That is what happened to my players, and when we made so many errors right off the bat, it took us out of our game."

"I would have to say that we actually played them like we are capable of playing them, but it wasn't until game three that we pulled it all together," said Foreman. "I had my players take a knee before the third game, and I told them how very proud I was of their accomplishments this weekend. 'We have had a great run on our winning record, and you have played your hearts out to a point of complete exhaustion. However, I don't want us to go home having to lose to Stephens in this manner. Now go out there and stop dwelling on the mistakes, and live for the moment.' We were so close to beating them in that game, that if we had, we probably would have won the championship."

As it is, the Comets will have to wait until October 4 when the Stephens Stars will come to Hinkhouse for a visit. Until then, the Comets can console themselves with a second-place finish in the tournament, and knowing that Carmen Kintz received the libero award and Lauren Jenkins was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Other leaders for the Comets in the championship match were Bryson with 11 assists, Jenkins with seven kills and five blocks, and Kintz with 20 digs. Three players tied with one ace apiece.

The tournament raised the Comets' season record to 9-3 on the year. Next up is a visit to Northeast Oklahoma A&M Community College in Miami, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, September 23. The next home games for the Comets will be this weekend when they host regional and district opponents in a tune-up for the postseason tourney. The first match will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 26.