Comets start volleyball season with wins over Regents, Saints

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

SAINT ANSGAR — Volleyball season traditionally gets underway several days if not a whole week ahead of football and cross country when it comes to season openers.

And whenever volleyball makes that jump start, varsity matches are played in bunches and teams — if they’re good if not just lucky — can accrue double-digit victories before September or Labor Day at the not-so latest.

The Charles City Comets, who earlier this week were listed at No. 14 among Class 4A teams according to the preseason rankings released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, went 2-0 during Tuesday’s triangular hosted by Saint Ansgar.

In their first match of the season, the Comets defeated Waterloo Christian 2-1 (25-15, 22-25, 15-11).

Senior Keely Collins, a returning All-Northeast Iowa Conference First Team player from last season, had eight well-over-the-net towering kills, two blocks and two aces against the Regents.

Junior Mya Rimrod, a returning All-NEIC Second Team selection last season, had a match-high 10 kills; senior Emma Miller had 16 digs and seven kills; and sophomore setter Sophia Parrott had 35 assists and was 13 of 13 serving with two aces for the Comets.

In the subsequent 2-0 (25-14, 25-18) win over the hosting Saints, which were ranked No. 9 in Class 1A in the aforementioned preseason listings, Collins had eight kills and three blocks; Parrott had 23 assists; and sophomore Keely Anderegg was 9 of 9 serving with an ace.

The Comets had a subsequent triangular at New Hampton also involving Denver on Thursday; and will host a six-team invitational on Saturday that is due to include Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Iowa Falls-Alden, Mason City, Riceville and Northeast Iowa Conference rival Decorah.