By: Mike Smith
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 |
Box Score 3 |
Box Score 4
Coming off the first KJCCC match of the season the Dodge City volleyball team competed in their third tournament of the season and took on some strong competition again coming home with a 3-1 performance at the Odessa College Invitational.
The Conquistadors opened the tournament facing off with #17 Navarro and would push the Bulldogs but fall in four sets (19-25, 24-26, 25-18, 21-25). The Conqs responded to cap day one of competition in Odessa with a victory beating Temple in straight sets (25-17, 25-23, 25-19) and then dispatched Central Arizona on day two in straight sets (25-23, 25-19, 25-18). The tournament wrapped up with the Conqs facing off against #14 New Mexico and behind a strong start to the match the Conqs picked up their second win this season against a ranked opponent beating the Thunderbirds in four sets (25-23, 25-19, 29-31, 25-21).
The 3-1 performance moved the Conqs to 8-6 on the season, and now the Conqs' attention goes back to KJCCC play as they will travel to Concordia on Wednesday, September 11th to play Cloud County at 6:30 pm.
Vs #17 Navarro – Lost 3-1
Riding a four-match win streak entering the tournament the Conqs had been putting together some strong performances and it would be that way again against Navarro. The first set was back-and-forth and tight throughout until a late push by Navarro to take it 25-19. The second set would see the Conqs fall behind but surge back to have set point late but Navarro would snag it 26-24. The Conqs with their backs against the wall in the match would grab the third set, 25-18 to stay alive but the fourth set would go Navarro's way 25-21 to cap the match.
Conqs would rack up 60 kills in the match with a trio of gals recording double-figure marks including 18 kills for
Beatriz Lampugnani Cornachini.
Agnes Hegardt chipped in 13 kills as she hit .481 for the match, while
Sila Yildiz added 11 kills and five aces.
Hayden Pinard and
Kamalei Wassman helped orchestra the offense for the Conqs recording 33 and 25 assists, respectively.
Vs Temple – Won 3-0
The Conqs would bounce back from a tough opening loss in Odessa and respond with a straight-set win over Temple. The Conqs set the tone for the match by taking the first set 25-17 and then would fend off Temple in the next two sets winning them 25-23 and 25-19 to grab the team's sixth win of the season.
A double-double by Cornachini paced the Conqs in the matchup as she had 12 kills and 11 digs,
Leisey Keli'i anchored the back for the Conqs with 14 digs and three assists. Pinard recorded 30 assists, a kill, and five digs, while
Amariah White chipped in seven kills.
Vs Central Arizona – Won 3-0
Day two in Odessa started strong for the Conqs while Central Arizona would make it a contest the Conqs would keep them at arm's length throughout the match to take it in straight sets. The first set saw the Conqs edge Central Arizona 25-23, while the second and third set would go the Conqs way 25-19 and 25-18 to claim the match.
The offense was spread out by the Conqs with
Azra Arslanoglu leading the way with 10 kills. Yildiz had a strong match with five kills, five aces, and eight block assists, while Wassman finished with 13 assists, 12 digs, and two aces. Pinard added 15 assists and eight digs.
Vs #14 New Mexico – Won 3-1
To cap the action in Texas the Conqs picked up one the biggest wins of the season taking down #14 New Mexico, and it started with a great start to the match. The Conqs would claim a duel of a first set edging New Mexico 25-23 and then behind a .429 team hitting percentage in the second set would go up 2-0 in the match by winning the second set 25-19. The third set saw New Mexico jump out to an early advantage but the Conqs would push back to tie it late and have set point by the Thunderbirds would snag the third set in extra points at 31-29. In the fourth, the Conqs would respond and push past New Mexico 25-21 to claim the four-set win.
A quartet of double-figure kill performances by the Conqs helped lead the way in the win. White had a big match with 13 kills on a .478 hitting percentage while adding a solo block and six block assists. Hegardt registered 11 kills, Cornachini added 10 kills and nine digs, while Arslanoglu chipped in 10 kills. Keli'i tallied 14 digs, three assists, one ace, and one kill. Pinard and Wassman each had double-doubles as Pinard had 21 assists and 18 digs, while Wassman finished with 27 assists and 10 digs.