Comets go 3-1 at Eileen Benninga Volleyball Invitational
Charles City seniors Jadyn Van Horn (left) and Mya Rimrod go up in tandem to block a hit from Hudson sophomore Siri Olsen during Saturday’s Eileen Benninga Invite at Waterloo West. The Comets defeated the Pirates 2 sets to 1, and took 3 out of 4 matches at the invite.
By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
WATERLOO — It’s probably impractical for Iowa high school gymnasiums to be fitted with air conditioning, especially with the basketball seasons — combined being the most common indoor tenants – — having most of their games played during the dead of winter.
But volleyball remains an indoor sport played partially in the summer. And during the final Saturday of summer — a sweltering one like the waning season wanted to hit us with a final breath-of-a-dog-day blast — the Charles City Comets competed at the Eileen Benninga Invitational within Waterloo West’s brick-oven gym.
But after defeating Waterloo East in straight sets (21-17, 21-12) and losing to hosting Waterloo West (21-19, 21-16) which went undefeated during the invite, the Comets didn’t wilt amid the conditions and finished strong to take the next two matches to go 3-1 and improve to 14-4 for the season.
Against formerly Class 2A Top 15-ranked Hudson, the Comets won the first set 21-14 before the Pirates evened things up when taking the second set 21-17.
The Pirates took a 7-4 lead in the rubber set before the Comets went up 11-9 on a left-handing outside kill by freshman Addison Ellis.
A blocking kill by senior Jadyn Van Horn and a service ace by Miyah Stevenson increased the lead to 13-9, before a pair of service errors gifted the Comets their final points (15-12).
In the concluding match of the invite, Marshalltown took a 16-11 lead against Charles City in the first set before a kill by senior Mya Rimrod tied the set at 17.
The teams exchanged 1-point leads between ties to force an extended set before a service error by Hudson finally gave the Comets the 2-point margin of victory (25-23).
The second set was also close with numerous ties and alternating 1-point leads before a kill by Evelyn Mayhew gave the Comets some breathing room (18-16).
With several unforced errors by Marshalltown, the Comets were able to score the final 5 points in the set (21-16) for the match victory.
The Comets will host former Northeast Iowa Conference rival Waverly-Shell Rock, Tuesday in Comet Gym.
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