'Scrappy' Comets set to begin volleyball season

Scrappy is a word Marla Kannady uses to describe the 2011 Cottey College women's volleyball team.

The 12th year coach of the Comets, Kannady feels she has a scrappy, defensive-minded team this season.

"These players are willing to hit the floor for a ball," Kannady said. "They'd rather have their bodies hit the floor than see that ball hit the floor. That's been real nice to see."

As the season arrives, Coach Kannady has just one returning sophomore. Sam Pierce is a 5-9 outside hitter from Anderson. Kannady said Pierce could play in the middle, if needed, too.

"She's a pretty versatile player," Kannady said.

Nine freshmen are on the roster this year. Kannady said all could contribute.

"So far, no one has showed me that they'll be a weak link," she said. "I think all of them have the chance to earn playing time."

One freshman on the roster is Nevada's Erica Wagenknecht, a 5-4 libero. Taylor McCue (5-6, Lake Havasu, Ariz.) and Bailie Turgeon (5-7, Blue Springs) are setters. Kymee Bair (5-8, Kansas City) and Rachel Massey (5-6, Conway) are both liberos. Alexis Self (5-7, Osceola) can play setter or outside hitter. Katelin Crane (5-10, Coffeyville, KS) is a middle hitter. Lindsey Aldridge (5-10, Willow Springs) and Kristina Coverdell (5-10, Licking) are outside hitters. Kannady said most of her athletes can play multiple positions.

"That's a nice luxury to have," she said. "It's real nice to have that kind of versatility."

The team's practices have been competitive, too, Kannady noted.

"We've only got one sophomore, so there's a lot of starting positions open."

Team depth should be a strength of the team, along with passing and defense. Kannady said her team still needs to work on its serve-receive.

Next, most of the team's players are from Missouri.

"In the past, Missouri students have been the minority," Kannady said. "But this year, we recruited a lot regionally."

Overall, Kannady has been pleased with what she's seen in her team's practices. She added she has high expectations. The team went .500 last year, a big improvement from 2009.

"It was a good successful season with a lot of progress," Kannady said.

She hopes the program continues to make progress.

"It's really exciting right now," she said. "I just hope the tenacity doesn't die down. I know if my players do what they're supposed to do and work hard, we're going to be able to hold our own."

The Comets are the Fort Scott tourney this weekend.