Volleyball wins at home; takes fourth at tourney

The Cards traveled to the College of Southern Idaho last weekend, bringing home a fourth-place finish.

They defeated Green River Community College (25-14, 25-14, 25-22); then Blinn College defeated the Cards in four games (22-25, 25-18, 15-25, 23-25).

Both the following matches went well, the Cards taking both Mt. Hood Community College and Yavapai in three games.

Their next home match is Friday at 7 p.m.

The Cards captured a win Tuesday from Green River. The first few points of each game were close as the Cardinals learned how their opponent played, but the Cards were a clearly stronger team.

Marketa Hanzlova, a freshman from the Czech Republic, had 13 kills. Lydia Tollbom and Kendra Wayling followed with six each. Maddie Dolny had 26 assists, helping the team to the final scores, 25-17, 25-14 and 25-14.

“Our strengths are hitting and ball control,” said head coach Chris Kosty, “The team as a whole is really good. The differences between the ones who start and the ones who don’t are miniscule.”

Seven sophomores and six freshmen this season, although the team lost one player, Ashley Kelly, who was unable to play because of finances.
Over the summer several things changed for the Cardinals.

First was a scoring change. Previously, college games went to 30 points. This season, they only play to 25 in order to match international standards.

Second, the Cards held several camps over the summer as fundraisers and they were far more successful than previous seasons.

“We made more than double what we planned,” Kosty said excitedly, “and all that money goes to the program.” This year was so successful he said that next year they plan to move the camps to roomier Coeur d’Alene high school.

With a last week’s match record of 20-7, the Cardinals are off to a positive start. Kosty said they want to qualify for the national tournament as well as defeat the two toughest teams in the division, College of Southern Idaho and Salt Lake Community College.

“I’m not a big fan of season goals,” said Kosty. “I just want to beat everybody and win.”