News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2009

COMETS LOSE THREE

The Cottey College Comets volleyball team continued to struggle as they dropped two matches over the weekend in a tournament at Parsons, Kansas, and then lost at home in the final regular season match. In the opening round at Parsons, Cottey fell to Northern Oklahoma-Enid by the scores 22-25, 22-25, 11-25. In the Comets' last match, the home team, Labette Community College, swept the Comets 19-25, 23-25, 22-25. At home on Monday, the Comets were swept by Northeastern Oklahoma A&M community College 10-25, 22-25, and 10-25.

"In both matches over the weekend, we kept it close," said head coach Marla Kannady Foreman, "except for the third game vs. Enid. In fact, we led several times in the other five games that we played Friday night. My players were competing with both teams, except for our 11-point game. It was nice to get ahead by four or five points, but it also scared my players I think. Right around 16-17 points, when we were in the lead, sometimes by five points, we would make a string of unforced errors, which put our opponent right back in the game. I am proud of the way in which my players stayed right there with these teams, and sometimes even led."

Team leaders for the Comets against Enid were Janelle Crowell and Kailey Kelly with two aces each, Natalie Larsen with 16 assists, Amanda Taylor and Kelly with five kills each, Andrea Hass and Taylor with three blocks each, and Emily Moore with 13 digs. In the Labette match, team leaders were Larsen with 17 assists, Taylor with nine kills and four blocks, and Moore with 17 digs.

On Monday night, the always raucous Hinkhouse crowd came prepared to do whatever they could to boost the home team to victory. The student section included an improvised pep band with a bass drum, snare drum, French horn, and trumpet. This crowd came to make some noise and celebrate their home team.

It was also senior night, and Cottey's only two returning players on this year's squad, Chrissy Echeverria and Janelle Crowell, were recognized before the game.

In the opening game, it was all NEO as the Comets made several unforced errors falling quickly in game one 10-25.

Who knows if it was the pep band's influence, or if the Comets just got the opening game jitters out of the way, but game two was a battle royal, and one that Cottey almost won. The opening points were fairly even, with the Comets holding a slim 6-5 lead. Soon though, Cottey was down by five points at 8-13 and also at 12-17. It began to look like another quick victory by the Lady Norse, but suddenly the Comets found their groove.

A 5-0 run tied the game at 17, and after three points by NEO, the Comets called a time out trailing 17-20. Cottey pulled within two at 18-20 and 19-21 before tying the game at 21. A point by the Comets gave them the late lead at 21-20 and the visitors quickly called a time out as the pep band and the crowd went into overdrive. Unfortunately for the Comets, they could not score again against the Lady Norse in that game and fell 22-25.

Although the crowd was fired up, the game two loss seemed to take the wind out of the Comets sails in the third game. It was close early, the Comets only trailed by two at 9-11, but NEO was able to put together a 0-13 run to seal the win and the sweep.

Team leaders for the Comets against NEO were Kelly with two aces; Larsen with 12 assists; Echeverria, Crowell, and Taylor with three kills each; and Moore with 13 digs.

With the losses, the Comets' record fell to 1-17 on the year. The Comets have one regular season match remaining. They will face Ft. Scott Community College on Friday, October 30, in Ft. Scott. That match begins at 6:30 p.m. The Comets will begin postseason play on Friday, November 6, in Lee's Summit, Missouri.