Cottey College Volleyball is hitting the court for the first time in 2024 today, with returners and fresh faces ready to make an impact on this season. The Comets finished last year with a 12-17 record, but have a nice nucleus of experience coming back to lead the team this season. Senior Staley Stallaby has been a 4 year contributor for the Comets, starting almost every game of her tenure. As a setter, she has a clear understanding of what coaches Marla Kannady Foreman and Ashleigh Miller hope to accomplish this season. Foreman was named the American Midwest Conference Coach of Character award receipient this past year, a high honor to be selected for in the conference. Three other veterans hope to make their presence known this year, Magdalen Dougherty, Elena Adams, and Tatum Marang. Dougherty was a 2nd Team All-Conference Selection last season, while Adams and Marang each made significant impacts as freshmen last season.

The Comets also bring in close to a dozen new faces into the program. One of those new faces has a couple seasons of collegiate volleyball under her belt; Mckinzie Bohrer comes to Cottey from Fort Scott Community College, and will slot in as a Defensive Specialist for the Comets. In a team full of young faces, having experience can be critical in early season matchups for composure and staying calm under pressure. The Comets are kicking off their new year at the Thunder Invitational, hosted by Manhattan Christian, where they will take on four opponents in non-conference action. The team will return north next week at the Sioux City Tournament in Iowa, providing plenty of games for the new team to compete and get their feet wet in collegiate play. For home fans, the first home contest is on September 21st, when the Comets host the York Panthers for a 1pm contest. The Comets first conference game is an away contest at Stephens College on September 24th. The additions of Mission University and Crowley's Ridge College will shake up the conference, making every match more interesting and full of implications. 

The Comets were picked to finish 5th in the conference by the coaches in the American Midwest Conference. For a full look at the Preseason Coaches poll, check out the AMC release here: https://amcsportsonline.com/news/2024/8/23/womens-volleyball-amc-duo-expected-to-battle-in-volleyball.aspx

The Comets first contest is against Friends University on Friday the 23rd at 1pm; you can catch the action here: https://www.cotteycomets.com/links/uzf1kq