Comets continue hot start
By Joe Warren
Nevada Daily Mail
Don't get too close to the red hot Cottey Comets, you just might get burned.
Stephens College out of Columbia found that out the hard way Tuesday, as the Comets swept them decisively, 30-14, 30-15 and 30-15.
The Comets looked the part of the dominant volleyball team in the contest at the Hinkhouse Center. Minimizing mistakes and working on execution, Cottey controlled the tempo the entire match. The Comets had little trouble pulling away from Stephens in each of the three games.
The freshman cast of Karolina Miller, Lindsay Rader, Hristina Denic and Alyssa Luper continued to carry the Comets (4-1), while sophomores Jenny McCullough, Rachel Cordier and Stephanie Licea did their part.
Freshman Amber Hayward and Denise Vega also got into the action Tuesday, as the Comets displayed their deep talent base.
"This year, with the talent that I've got, I utilize trying to get some substitutions going," Cottey head coach Marla Kannady said. "I want the players to be versatile enough (for anything)."
Kannady said she was happy with the mental preparation her team had going into the match.
"I felt like we had a really good pregame warmup," she said. "(In the games) I'm working on execution. It's not who you play, it's how you play."
Kannady said her team needs to be consistent, playing hard every time they step onto the court.
"Regardless of the caliber of team you're playing, focus needs to be on execution," she said.
Miller led the squad with 6 aces, 9 kills, 6 blocks and 12 digs. Rader also had a big match, recording 12 assists, 6 kills and 9 digs.
Cordier added 10 assists, while Luper and Denic each had 7 digs. McCullough also pitched in with 9 digs of her own.
The Comets open NJCAA Region 16 play when they travel to Lee's Summit on Saturday, to take on defending region champion Longview.
The match will be the first time Cottey's McCullough returns to face her former team. McCullough transferred from Longview to Cottey in the summer.