Big numbers don't add up for 'Hounds in loss

Monday, October 10, 2016
Fort Scott Community College sophomore setter Mickey Trimble, seen here setting for Bri Bogan during the second set, handed out 49 assists in a four-set loss to Cowley at Arnold Arena Wednesday night. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team saw its recent struggles continue at Arnold Arena Wednesday night as No. 10-ranked Cowley took a 23-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-16 win over the 17th-raned Greyhounds in Jayhawk Conference-Division II play.

The Greyhounds fell into sixth place in the division at 3-3 and now stand at 18-6 overall, having lost four of their last seven after a 15-2 start. This was also their second consecutive home loss in that span and their fourth straight loss to a division opponent, including a non-conference loss to No. 7 Coffeyville at the Neosho County Invitational last weekend.

Head coach Lindsay Hill even tried shuffling the lineup some in the fourth set but it was not enough to overcome the errors that sabotaged the Greyhounds' effort.

There were strong points to the Fort Scott game. Sophomore Brette Moore was a force on the right side most of the night. The left-hander was credited with 24 kills and had a kill percentage of .500. Deardin Kelley picked up 13 kills and Megan Turner had 8.

Setter Mickey Trimble dished out 49 assists and the Greyhounds had 73 digs led by Katie Gorman's 26. Kelley had 13 digs, Hanna White 11 and Turner 10. Bri Bogan was 4 blocks -- 2 solos, 2 assisted.

But even the best player on the night were subject to key errors and Cowley (5-1, 13-7), which is now a half-match behind division-leading Coffeyville following its ninth in its last 11 outings, was keen to take advantage of them behind the duo of Tatyana Ndewke and Brylee Burroughs on the front line.

Fort Scott trailed 22-18 in the first set before a long serve by Cowley gave the 'Hounds a point and the serve. They scored 7 of the last 8 points with Bogan picking up the last 2 on a block and a kill on a freeball at the net.

Cowley held a 15-9 lead in the second set before the 'Hounds staged a rally. They held off elimination at 24-21 to tie the set on a Moore. But Burroughs got serve back for the Tigers and a Fort Scott error closed out the set.

The Greyhounds went out to a 9-5 lead in the third set. Cowley tied the set five times before going out in front 20-19. That last lead change was part of a 8-2 run to end the set.

The Tigers went up 6-1 in the fourth set as the 'Hounds suffered lapses in their coverage. After a time out, Moore came out and made a couple of kills to help Fort Scott get back in it.

Down 15-10, Fort Scott called time out but Cowley was the side that got the left coming back onto the court, eventually using another 6-1 run to extend the lead to 22-13.

The Greyhounds are playing in an invitational at Central-Columbus, Neb., this weekend. There they faced No. 14 Northeast, Neb., and North Platte, Neb., on Friday and will take on Bismarck State, N.D. and No. 8 Central today.

NOTES -- Gorman, a 2016 Fort Scott High School graduate, was named a Jayhawk Conference-Division II Co-Player of the Week for the week ending October 2. Gorman led the team with 107 digs for an average of 7.13 digs per set in five matches. As of Oct. 3, she ranked third in the nation in total digs with 510. Gorman shared the award with Cowley sophomore outside hitter Olivia Powell.

It's the second time this season Gorman has earned conference honors. She was also Co-POTW in Week Four of the season, sharing with teammate Trimble.