Top-ranked Lady Tigers hand Highland first conference defeat

Coming off four wins over the weekend, the top-ranked Cowley College Lady Tiger volleyball team was back at it on Wednesday at W.S. Scott Auditorium. This time, Cowley handed Highland its first conference defeat by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 25-17.

Cowley (10-0) remains tied for the conference lead with Johnson County, as they are both 4-0. Highland's seven-match win streak was snapped, as they are now 11-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

"Highland came to play, but our passing was spot on when we made runs," Cowley head coach Steven Gream said. "They did not have an answer for our serve once we got it going."

With the score tied 7-7 in set one, Cowley rattled off nine straight points to pull away for the 25-15 win.

Highland led 8-4 and 15-14 in set two before Cowley again rallied for the 25-18 victory.

The Lady Tigers would score five of the first six points in set three en route to the 25-17 win.

Unofficially, Cowley sophomore Laura Bonomi led the way with 22 kills.

"Laura is seeing the floor so well and hard to defend," Gream said.

Cowley will now prepare for its toughest test of the season when they participate in the Johnson County tri-match on Saturday in Overland Park. The Lady Tigers will take on fourth-ranked Kirkwood at 1 p.m. before facing Northeast Community College at 3.

"We wanted a tough schedule to push us and Kirkwood is a quality team and similar to how we play," Gream said. "We need to play our speed and get better first touch on the ball."