Comets bounce back with 3-1 VB win over Vikings
By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — Losing streaks can last a long time.
But the Charles City Comets’ recent six-match losing streak took place during one day after they took their lumps at a highly competitive tournament in Osage on Saturday that featured several state-ranked teams.
On Tuesday, Charles City returned to Comet Gym for a Northwest Iowa Conference match against Decorah, and got back on the winning track with a 3-1 match victory to improve its overall record to 5-9.
The Comets had earlier defeated the Vikings while hosting a season-opening tournament on Aug. 25.
In the first set, Decorah took a 9-5 lead before a blocking kill by Charles City senior middle hitter Jodie Sindlinger tied the set ahead of a blocking kill by Sami Heyer that put the Comets up 19-12. Two more kills by Charles City junior Danielle Stock helped seal the 25-20 first-set win.
An ace by Dani Reetz to start the second set helped get the Comets off to a 7-1 lead. Decorah made a run to draw closer, but consecutive aces served up by Sarah Mitchell kept them out of striking distance as the Comets won the set 25-17.
Charles City junior Lexi Vance came off the bench to slap in five service points, including a pair of aces to help the Comets take a 5-1 lead in the third set. But a pair of kills each by Viking juniors Ambria Pipho and Brooke Berns helped Decorah take control of the set on way to winning 25-22 while forcing a fourth set.
A blocking kill by Stock gave the Comets a 9-3 lead in the fourth set. Decorah closed the gap to 2 (15-13) before Mitchell set up Marissa Daniels for a kill to widen the margin to 5 (19-14).
Mitchell later was able to out-battle two bigger players at the net for a kill that put the Comets 1 point away from match victory before an unforced error by the Vikings ended the set at 25-18.
Next up for Charles City is a tournament Saturday in Dike-New Hartford.
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