Cottey toppled in four sets by Ozark Christian College

The Cottey College Comets were dropped in four sets by Ozark Christian College 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 25-15, Tuesday in Joplin.

With the loss, Cottey falls to 6-9.

The Comets hitting percentages for the matches were 15 percent, 26 percent, 18 percent, and 13 percent.

Comets coach Marla Kannady-Foreman said her team's struggles in several areas played a major factor in the loss.

"We had 17 missed serves for our Tri-match on Saturday, and turned around and missed seven serves against Ozark," she said. "It's too late in the season to develop serving errors when you haven't struggled with it all season long.

"We had 26 hitting errors in one match as there were a lot of attacks being made without the kill. Ozark was very scrappy, and that is why they end up in their National Tournament every year and fair well."

Kannady-Foreman also said the Comets committed nine serve-receive errors and five ball-handling errors.

"Once again the serves came back to haunt us in yet another match," she said. "Three missed serves in a two point first game loss. However, we came back and won game two pretty solidly, so I was assuming we would run with it and take the match.

Kannady-Foreman said Ozark Christian College "out-hustled" her team.

"We didn't necessarily get out-skilled, just out-hustled," she said. "Ozark doesn't have a lot of height, but they sure make up for it in footwork."

Kannady-Foreman said she was upset with her team's play in the fourth set.

"I can't explain game three against NEO on Saturday, and I can't explain game four against Ozark," she said. "But I do know that we are a better team than those scores showed. My players are too quick to get down on themselves. Each of them are really hard on themselves, and don't want to let their teammates down.

"However, they must realize that energy and momentum is what brings teams to the excitement level needed to endure those low times"

According to Kannady-Foreman, her squad's energy level is unpredictable from match-to-match.

"Our energy level is just fine when we are ahead in the game," she said. "However, get a few points ahead of us, and I can see the expressions on each of my players faces of gloom and doom."

Kannady-Foreman said players getting down on themselves at this level of play, is counter-productive.

"I should never see a look of worry on a players face, but rather a look of fire and determination to stop the bleeding and get back to business," she said. "It gets to where even though we have fought back numerous times, our energy level suffers when we get down, because the players are all worried about what mistakes they made, instead of focusing on what they can do to get the team back up."

However, Kannady-Foreman said she is pleased with her team's overall harmony.

"My players are all getting along and that is a huge factor going into the end of the season," she said. "Teams that get along do have an advantage over drama-filled teams.

"Now all we need to do is stop making the same mistakes, and get back to business so we can really surprise some people. I feel like my team this year is competitive in the region, and I can't always make that statement from year-to-year."

For Cottey, Maddie Lugenbeel dished out 22 assists. Regan Kannady had a nice all-around performance with 17 assists, 10 kills, 5 blocks, and an ace.

Kelsey Davidson registered 15 kills, to go along with 14 digs. Morgan Taylor chipped in with 11 kills and 10 digs.

Kannady notched the team's highest hitting percentage for the match, at 30 percent.

Check Saturday's paper for coverage of the Comets Senior Night matchup against Longview Community College.