by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Coming within an eyelash of a four-match sweep in the Central Nebraska Volleyball Invitational over the weekend, Kansas City Kansas Community College turned its focus on what shapes up as the biggest contest of the season Wednesday.
That’s when No. 7 ranked Coffeyville (27-1) invades the KCKCC Field House for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff. At 4-1 in Jayhawk Conference play, a win would vault the Lady Blue Devils into a first place tie with Cowley College (5-1) and a half-game ahead of Coffeyville (6-1). It will be the second meeting of the two teams as Coffeyville defeated KCKCC (18-10 overall overall) in the KCKCC Invitational.
KCKCC swept the first three matches in the Central Nebraska tourney in Columbus and had a 2-1 lead on North Platte Saturday only to drop a heartbreaking 16-14 final set. The Blue Devils won the first set 25-15, lost the second 25-22, won the third 25-18 and then dropped the final two 25-19, 16-14.
The Blue Devils opened the invitational with a 25-8, 25-17, 25-18 win over Northeast Nebraska Friday but needed five sets to edge Williston State College 3-2. KCKCC split the first four sets, winning 25-14 and 29-27 while losing 25-19 and 27-25 before capturing the pivotal fifth set 15-11. In Saturday’s opener, KCKCC swept Bismarck State College 26-24, 25-20, 25-20.
Wednesday’s match tips off the first of three straight home matches for the Blue Devils, who are home to Neosho County Oct. 19 and Longview Oct. 21 before closing out the regular season at No. 17 Fort Scott Oct. 26 and Labette Nov. 1.