Hot streak: Comets crush Ozark Christian

The Cottey Comet volleyball team has reeled off three victories in its last four matches, capped by Tuesday's decisive three-set road-sweep of Ozark Christian College.

Cottey rolled to a first-set (25-8) win. The Comets then put the contest away in quick order, taking the second (25-22) and third (25-15) sets.

Freshman Dazie Jones led the Comets with a team-high 13 assists and four digs. Other major contributors for Cottey were Reita Andrew with 11 digs and an ace; Lilly Miller seven kills and six digs; while Madison Edeler and Briannah Quick chipped in five kills apiece.

Prior to Tuesday's road victory, the Comets were in Conway (Ark.) Oct. 19 for a Central Baptist College-hosted tri-match.

Cottey kicked off the festivities with a four-set victory over Dallas Christian College — 25-20, 25-13, 20-25, 25-13.

Jones and teammate Jocelyn Tidwell tallied 11 digs apiece. In addition for Cottey, Andrew and Rosa Schones finished with eight digs apiece.

Quick, meanwhile, registered a match-high 10 kills, while Miller added seven, and Tidwell — five.

In their second and final match of the day, the Comets were upended by host Central Baptist in five sets — 22-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 8-15.

For Cottey Tidwell tallied a team-high 22 digs, and Jones 20. Emily Killion and Kelsey Thomas concluded with 14 digs each, while Andrew added 11. Kill leaders for Cottey were Tidwell (11), Jones (9), Miller (9), Aleisa Cooley (6).

After playing some of their best volleyball of the season, the Comets currently reside at 11-12 overall. Cottey has only one match remaining on its regular-season slate, a home contest (Oct. 30)with visiting Avila University.

Cottey head coach Marla Kannady-Foreman discussed her club's play this season.

"We struggled with injuries quite a bit in the beginning, so lineups were being (changed) a lot this fall," she said. "Having two setters with limited experience on a college court also made for a rough start, but has vastly improved over the course of the season. The setter/hitter combo grew, thus making hitters more confident in their attacks."

Added Kannady-Foreman: "Passing and blocking also improved as we developed a better platform-stance in passing, and (as) players increased their verticals for the block."

Kannady-Foreman said she has been impressed by the development of several of her players.

Dazie is a solid player, both front and back row," said the veteran head coach. "She was one of my setters, which we developed into a 5-1 setter. She came in as an outside hitter/defensive specialist — but took on this additional role as a setter. "

Kannady-Foreman said Texas native Cooley has also made major strides.

"She came in pretty timid, but willing to work hard," Kannady-Foreman noted. "She has developed into a very tough competitor on the front line."

Kannady-Foreman said she anticipates a "half -dozen or so" from her current roster returning to play for her again next season.

"That will help tremendously in building the program," Kannady-Foreman explained. "Instead of having to continue to start each year with limited, experienced players."