by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College and Neosho County will square off for a third time Saturday in opening round Region VI volleyball playoff action at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kan.
The teams split in their first two meetings, KCKCC taking a 3-0 decision in the season-opening Neosho Tri-Match in Chanute but then dropping a 3-0 verdict at home Oct. 19.
Finishing in a tie-with Johnson County for sixth place at 4-5, the Blue Devils (19-14) will enter the four-team District M tournament as the No. 6 seed. Their opening match with No. 3 Neosho (20-11) is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
The Blue Devils will be attempting to snap a two-match losing streak, falling 3-0 at No. 17 ranked Fort Scott Oct. 26 and then dropping a narrow 28-26, 25-23, 25-23 match at Labette on Tuesday.
Ranked No. 9 nationally and the No. 2 seed, Cowley (25-8) will play host to No. 7 and 13th ranked Johnson County (19-15) in the opening match at 1 p.m. The two winners will collide for the championship at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to the national tournament
In the other half of the Region VI playoffs, No. 1 seeded and sixth ranked Coffeyville (35-1) will play host to No. 8 Hesston (14-15) at 11 a.m. with No. 4 Fort Scott (26-10) meeting No. 5 Highland (24-12) at 1 p.m. Fort Scott is ranked No. 17 and Highland No. 18 in the national poll. The championship game is slated for 3 p.m.