Cowley remains unbeaten, prepares for challenging home tourney

The top-ranked Cowley College volleyball team improved its record to 13-0 with a dominating 25-3, 25-9, 25-10 win over Seminole State College (OK) on Wednesday inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.

Cowley has won 54 matches in a row dating back to last season, while Seminole State falls to 8-13.

Freshman setter Hanna Darvas led Cowley with 33 assists and three aces as she served the Lady Tigers to a 13-0 lead in set one.

"Our serve put a lot of pressure on Seminole and allowed us to have nice runs," Cowley head coach Steven Gream said. "It is always nice when you get others playing time and give some of our starters rest. It was good to see everyone contribute the way they did."

The Lady Tigers were never threatened in the match, scoring the first 13 points of set one and finishing with a season-best .513 hitting percentage.

Withy Cowley racing out to a 13-4 lead in set two and 7-2 in set three, Gream could play almost everyone on the roster.

Freshman Josci Buckley joined sophomores Laura Bonomi and Sara Puskus with a team-high eight kills. Freshman Ashlynn Jaccard added five kills and a .833 hitting percentage, Lu Ceroni chipped in with six kills, and Jessi Ritchhart finished with 16 digs.

"Ashlynn continues to grow as she gets more used to our speed and the way we do things," Gream said.

The Lady Tigers' win streak will be tested when they host four matches on Friday and Saturday at the Cowley Invitational Tournament. On Friday, Cowley will host Central Nebraska at 5 p.m. before facing 18^th-ranked Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College at 7.

Then, on Saturday at 11 a.m., the Lady Tigers will battle NJCAA Division III Dallas College Eastfield, which is unbeaten (15-0) and the defending DIII national champion. Cowley will wrap up play in the tournament by taking on Metropolitan Community College at 5 p.m.

"Overall, this is the most talent we have had at a home tournament," Gream said. "We will see four quality teams that are playing really well right now. This will help us prepare for the rest of the conference schedule."