Comets fall to bug, fatigue, Coffeyville

Cottey College's Mary Cunningham hits during Monday's match against Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College at the Hinkhouse Center. Coffeyville won 30-32, 30-22, 30-17, 30-28.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Cottey Comets battled a stomach ailment that infiltrated more than half of their seven regulars, and fought the heavy feet that comes from playing a third match in five days as they fell to the Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College Red Ravens Monday, at the Hinkhouse Center.

Coffeyville won 30-32, 30-22. 30-17, 30-28, as four Cottey players struggled with a stomach bug. Frontline players Mary Cunningham and Vanessa McCoy both were under the weather, as were backline specialists Tara Cooper and Dominica Sena.

"Four of my regular players were sick, and they didn't tell me until after the match," Cottey coach Marla Kannady said in an e-mail. "They didn't tell me because they didn't want to let me down."

The Comets had beaten Bible Baptist College Saturday during Friends and Family Weekend at Cottey.

The Comets swept Saturday, carrying over the momentum from their strong performance Thursday against 16th ranked Independence (Kan.).

The scores Saturday were 30-11, 30-15, 30-23.

The Comets are now 10-4 this season. They will be back in action Thursday when they host Messenger College out of Joplin.