Comets go 5-0 while winning HDC Volleyball Invitational

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

HAMPTON — If you go by rankings alone, it doesn’t appear that the Charles City Comets are making much progress.

For four straight weeks, the Comet have been sitting at No. 15 amid the Class 4A volleyball team rankings released weekly by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

But the Comets are not stuck in a rut … rather they’re on a roll.

After going 5-0 at Saturday’s Hampton-Dumont Invitational, Charles City has won nine matches in a row and 14 of its last 15 while improving to 24-4 overall.

During the invite, Charles City didn’t lose a single set with abbreviated 2-0 sweeps over Ames (21-16, 21-10), Independence (21-15, 21-13), Iowa Fall-Alden (21-13, 21-12), Hampton-Dumont (21-13, 21-11) and Class 1A No. 5-ranked Janesville (21-16, 21-13).

At a tournament that employed a team-placement system based on wins and points allowed, as well as a progression of tiebreakers if needed, the Comets were the outright tourney champs after they defeated the hosting Bulldogs in their final match.

During the invite, Charles City sophomore Sophia Parrott reached a milestone while recording her 500th assist of her varsity career. Parrott reached that milestone this season alone as she now leads the Comets with 552 assists this season — she ranked in the Top 50 among the state’s setters.

Other Comet team leaders include senior Keely Collins (175 kills, 51 blocks), junior Mya Rimrod (152 digs) and sophomore Keely Anderegg (44 service aces).

After Monday’s triangular at Janesville that also includes Osage, the Comets will participate in the Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament to be played on Thursday at New Hampton before the second-round matches at Comet Gym on Saturday.

In regular-season league standings, Charles City finished second to co-tourney host New Hampton — the Chickasaws have defeated the Comets twice this season, once during an abbreviated triangular match and another at Comet Gym when New Hampton — ranked No. 6 in Class 3A — came from behind to win the five-set match (3-2).

For the forthcoming Class 4A-Region 5 volleyball tournament, the Comets received a bye and will host the winner of the Waverly-Shell Rock-at-Webster City match in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 (a Thursday) in Comet Gym.

On the other side of the bracket, Decorah will host Mason City during the Oct. 17 first-round with the winner advancing to play No. 4-ranked Xavier (20-5) in Cedar Rapids in the other semifinal.

The Class 4A-Regional 5 final will be played Oct. 24 with the highest-ranked finalist hosting.