News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2008

COMETS GO 2-1 IN SEEDING TOURNAMENT

The Cottey College Comets hosted the volleyball seeding tournament for the Region/District over the past weekend. Six teams participated, playing three matches each, to help determine the seeding for the postseason tournament at the end of October. The Comets won two and lost one in their matches. On Friday, Cottey fell to a tough East Central College team, 22-25, and 12-25. (All matches were a best two of three format.) On Saturday, the Comets swept their opponents from the St. Louis Community College system, beating Meramec 25-21, 26-24; and Florissant Valley 25-13, 25-21.

East Central in Union, Missouri, is not in Region XVI, but because of its proximity to other teams in the region, plays in the postseason tournament. The Falcons have been a force to reckon with, and they came to the tournament to prove a point. Longview, the dominant team in Region XVI and winner of three games this past weekend, held on in a close battle to determine the top team. Cottey knew they would have all they wanted from East Central.

Although the Comets were usually playing from behind in the first game, they were almost always within a point or two of East Central.

"The first game with East Central was well prepared and played out," said Comets' coach Marla Kannady Foreman. "I feel like my players were playing to their full potential."

In game two, the Comets played even with the Falcons for the first half of the game. In fact it was tied at 10, when the wheels came off of Cottey's bandwagon. East Central ran off the next 13 points in creating an insurmountable lead.

"They had a tough jump server who scored too many points on us in a row," added Foreman, "leaving us feeling doubtful as a team that we could take them. Once we get down as a team, it's very hard to regroup. This is something we struggled with at first when we went to Stephens, and it keeps showing its ugly face every so often now."

Team leaders for Cottey against East Central were Ashleigh Bryson with six assists, Lauren Jenkins with five kills, and Chrissy Echeverria with 11 digs. Jenkins and Anna Cruse each had two blocks as well.

A night of rest was all the Comets needed to get back on the winning track. Game one was a fairly close contest, but the Comets were able to hold the lead from early in the game and did not allow the Magic to threaten seriously. Game two, however, was a different matter.

After grabbing an early lead, the Comets made some errors that put them in the hole late in the game 19-23. A 4-0 run tied the game and Cottey was able to gut out a tough victory.

"I talked to the team afterwards, and stated that I didn't know how they could get me so frustrated in one minute, and then have me proud of them the next" said Foreman. "I did not want to take a team like Meramec to three games if at all possible, and my players were most likely feeling the same way."

Team leaders for the Comets were Kaley Rogers with three aces, Bryson with 21 assists, Cruse with seven kills and seven blocks, and Jesse Jargowsky with 17 digs.

In the final matchup of the day, Cottey took on their other St. Louis rival, the Norsewomen from Flo Valley. The Comets were not going to allow Flo Valley to get close after the second game scare against Meramec. Cottey took control of the first game early and cruised to an early win. In game two, Cottey again controlled the tempo and sent the local fans home early.

"Set two really didn't get close even though the scores show that there might have been a struggle for us," said Foreman. "I have players who played through some illness last week, in a six-match tournament, and they were showing signs of fatigue by our third match on the weekend."

Team leaders in the final match were Jargowsky with 10 assists and 10 digs, Cruse with seven blocks, and Jenkins and Rogers tied with six kills each.

The Comets raised their record to 12-4 on the year. Next up is a tri-match at home against Baptist Bible and Stephens College on Saturday, October 4. Cottey will be looking for revenge against the Stephens Stars who have handed the Comets two of their four losses this season. The first match will begin at 12:30 inside the friendly confines of Hinkhouse Gymnasium.