Comets remain unbeaten

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

The Cottey Comets overcame an equipment malfunction and a poor start to upend the four-year school Stephens College in Columbia Tuesday, 21-30, 30-9, 30-22, 30-9.

The Comets had to borrow uniforms from the home team after mistakenly leaving theirs in Nevada, but rebounded from a choppy first game to dominate.

"Our passing in the first game was atrocious," Cottey head coach Marla Kannady said. "We were receiving serves and shanking easy ones."

Kannady said the Comets lacked intensity the first game and it allowed the Stephens Stars to force the issue.

"It made them look like the aggressor the first game," she said.

Kannady said the players regrouped after the first game.

"They kind of rearranged their thought mode," she said. "Games 2, 3 and 4, obviously we thought, 'if we pass, we can set it up and be the aggressor.'"

Cottey then took control of the tempo and annihilated the Stars.

Hristina Denic led the team with 20 kills, while freshman Tara Cooper paced the squad with 27 assists.

Defensively Dominica Sena played a big role, digging 28 times to keep balls in play.

Kannady said her 6-2 set, with Cooper and sophomore Lindsay Rader as the two setters, has been successful because of the versatility of the pair.

"They both work well because they both can hit, as well as set, as well as pass," Kannady said.

Vanessa McCoy led the team with six blocks. Denic also led the team with eight aces while serving.

Cottey improved to 4-0 this season, with their biggest test to date coming tonight in Lee's Summit. The Comets take on Longview Community College, perennially the team to beat in the region.

Kannady is hoping the team won't start out slow like they did against Stephens.

"We're going to have to learn to play whether we've got a home game or if we've gotten on a bus for a long time," she said.

The Comets have yet to play at home, with the home opener set for Sept. 19, when they get a rematch with the Stephens Stars.