Volleyball wraps up undefeated regular season for a second straight year

Winners of 75 matches in a row, the No. 1-ranked Cowley College volleyball team put the finishing touches on a second straight unbeaten regular season with a 25-15, 25-6, 25-20 victory at the Friends University JV on Friday before taking down Hesston College on Sophomore Night with a 25-2, 25-13, 25-12 win on Saturday in Arkansas City.

On Friday, sophomore Laura Bonomi led Cowley with 20 kills and 10 digs in what was Lady Tiger head coach Steven Gream's 300^th win at the school.

Then, on Saturday, the sophomores were honored prior to the match against Hesston. Once the match began, sophomore Sadie Lewis served Cowley to 12 straight points, and the Lady Tigers rolled to a 25-2 win in the opening set.

Cowley raced out to a 10-3 lead in set two and again were not threatened in the 25-13 win.

Set three was much like set one, with Cowley scoring 17 of the first 20 points and cruising to the 25-12 win.

Cowley is now 34-0 on the season and finished 10-0 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Lady Tiger sophomores have not lost a match in their two years at the school.

"Our sophomores have done a really good job for us," Gream said. "They all put in the work and were great leaders for our freshmen and carried on their drive to excel from their great season last year. Sophomore night is always so hard for me to coach, with all the memories of each player flowing through my head. Each of them means so much to me and our program, and I could not be more proud of them and what they have done these past two years. To do what those sophomores have done is truly extraordinary. They have made history not only for Cowley but also in the NJCAA."

Sadie Lewis had a career-high eight service aces to go along with 29 assists and 10 digs in the win over Hesston.

"Sadie had a night to remember," Gream said. "Starting with her serve in that first set and throughout the match. That set the tone and allowed our defense and offense to kick in during the match. Then to add her great setting and defense to record a double-double, made it a great sophomore night for her and her teammates."

Fellow sophomores Laura Bonomi and Sara Puskus added 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Bonomi needs only four more kills to record 1,000 in her illustrious career.

Cowley will now prepare to host Coffeyville (9-22) in the first round of the Plains District A Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The winner will advance to play in the Plains District A Championship on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Friends University in Wichita, KS.

"We now get into playoff mode as we prepare for the district tournament starting against Coffeyville on Wednesday," Gream said. "We have played all season long to prepare for the postseason, and now it is time to put that preparation into action."