Cowley volleyball backs up top ranking by going 4-0 at Central Nebraska Tourney
October 10, 2011
Facing three teams in the top-10 of the national rankings during the Central Nebraska Tournament held Friday and Saturday in Columbus, NE, the Cowley College volleyball team showed why they are the No. 1-ranked team as they went unbeaten in four matches.
Cowley, 25-2 on the season, has won nine matches in a row.
"We kept fighting and being aggressive the entire weekend and that led to good things for us," Cowley head coach Jenifer Bahner said.
On Friday, Cowley opened with its only match against a non-ranked opponent and dispatched of North Platte (NE) in three games, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18. Martyna Gluchowicz and Goda Jankauskaite finished with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, and had only one hitting error a piece.
"Our hitting was very good this match," Bahner said.
Later in the day, Cowley pulled out a 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23 win over NJCAA Division I No. 7-ranked Iowa Western.
"Iowa Western is a great offensive team, but our team played very strong, served well and attacked well, and took them out of their rhythm," Bahner said.
Gluchowicz and Jankauskaite again finished with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, while Danika Maggard chipped in with 10 kills and 17 digs.
Cowley came back on Saturday to take on tournament host and No. 8-ranked Central Nebraska. The Lady Tigers fought back from a 24-20 deficit in game one to score seven of the game's final eight points and went on to win the match 27-25, 25-14, 25-15.
Gluchowicz again led Cowley with 14 kills, while Jankauskaite, Maggard, and Emily Barto had seven kills apiece. Maggard added 16 digs to go along with her seven kills.
The Lady Tigers wrapped up play in the tournament by taking on No. 6-ranked Iowa Lakes. After winning the first game against Iowa Lakes 25-14, the Lakers came back to win the next two games by scores of 25-15, 25-19. With their backs against the wall, the Lady Tigers came out fired up in game four as they won 25-12. With the fifth and final game going back and forth, Cowley did just enough to pull out the 15-13 win.
"Iowa Lakes is always good competition for us," Bahner said.
Barto led Cowley with 16 kills and all five of the Lady Tigers' hitters finished with double figures in kills. Gluchowicz and Cathy Hafenstine finished with 10 kills apiece, while Jankauskaite capped a brilliant tourney with 14 kills in the win over Iowa Lakes, and Maggard added 12 kills and 16 digs.
"This was the best weekend I have seen from Danika and Goda," Bahner said. "Those two were a big difference for us. Danika did a phenomenal job on defense and Goda was our go to person when we were in trouble against Iowa Lakes. If we can keep them competing at a high level we will be a tough team to beat."
The Lady Tigers will return to action Wednesday when they host Allen County at 6:30 p.m. Allen County is 13-18 overall and 3-5 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division.
"We need to focus on what we need to do in order to take care of business because we know Allen County will give us one of their best games," Bahner said.
Cowley, 25-2 on the season, has won nine matches in a row.
"We kept fighting and being aggressive the entire weekend and that led to good things for us," Cowley head coach Jenifer Bahner said.
On Friday, Cowley opened with its only match against a non-ranked opponent and dispatched of North Platte (NE) in three games, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18. Martyna Gluchowicz and Goda Jankauskaite finished with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, and had only one hitting error a piece.
"Our hitting was very good this match," Bahner said.
Later in the day, Cowley pulled out a 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23 win over NJCAA Division I No. 7-ranked Iowa Western.
"Iowa Western is a great offensive team, but our team played very strong, served well and attacked well, and took them out of their rhythm," Bahner said.
Gluchowicz and Jankauskaite again finished with 13 and 12 kills, respectively, while Danika Maggard chipped in with 10 kills and 17 digs.
Cowley came back on Saturday to take on tournament host and No. 8-ranked Central Nebraska. The Lady Tigers fought back from a 24-20 deficit in game one to score seven of the game's final eight points and went on to win the match 27-25, 25-14, 25-15.
Gluchowicz again led Cowley with 14 kills, while Jankauskaite, Maggard, and Emily Barto had seven kills apiece. Maggard added 16 digs to go along with her seven kills.
The Lady Tigers wrapped up play in the tournament by taking on No. 6-ranked Iowa Lakes. After winning the first game against Iowa Lakes 25-14, the Lakers came back to win the next two games by scores of 25-15, 25-19. With their backs against the wall, the Lady Tigers came out fired up in game four as they won 25-12. With the fifth and final game going back and forth, Cowley did just enough to pull out the 15-13 win.
"Iowa Lakes is always good competition for us," Bahner said.
Barto led Cowley with 16 kills and all five of the Lady Tigers' hitters finished with double figures in kills. Gluchowicz and Cathy Hafenstine finished with 10 kills apiece, while Jankauskaite capped a brilliant tourney with 14 kills in the win over Iowa Lakes, and Maggard added 12 kills and 16 digs.
"This was the best weekend I have seen from Danika and Goda," Bahner said. "Those two were a big difference for us. Danika did a phenomenal job on defense and Goda was our go to person when we were in trouble against Iowa Lakes. If we can keep them competing at a high level we will be a tough team to beat."
The Lady Tigers will return to action Wednesday when they host Allen County at 6:30 p.m. Allen County is 13-18 overall and 3-5 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division.
"We need to focus on what we need to do in order to take care of business because we know Allen County will give us one of their best games," Bahner said.