Lady Tiger volleyball team headed back to the national tournament

Finishing as the national runner-up at last year's national tournament, the No. 3-ranked Cowley College volleyball team is poised to make another run at the national title after capturing its second straight District B Championship with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-19 win over Kansas City Kansas Community College Saturday in Wichita, KS.

Kansas City finishes the season with a record of 24-3, while Cowley improves its record to 38-3.

"I thought we did a good job of being us," Cowley head coach Steven Gream said. "We balanced the court, served aggressive, and kept pressure on them the entire match."

Lady Tiger sophomore Rachele Tessari led Cowley with 16 kills and a .696 hitting percentage. Fellow sophomores Laci Beougher and Gyongyver Araczki added 14 and 10 kills, respectively.

With Cowley clinging to a 20-19 lead in set three, Araczki served back-to-back aces to help Cowley pull away.

"That was crucial," Gream said. "From day one, the goal for our sophomores was to get back to the national tournament. They stuck to the plan, upped their game, and we are excited to get back to the national tournament."

Freshman setter Vivianna Solis added 41 assists and 11 digs, while Anna Kiss finished with nine kills and 10 digs.

Cowley has won nine matches in a row and 16 of its past 17 matches entering the national tournament.

"We have played our hearts out to get to this point," Beougher said. "I have never been around such an amazing group of teammates. We are all so passionate about what we want to accomplish, and I am really proud of my teammates and what we have accomplished this year."

Cowley advances to play in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament November 17-19 in Cedar Rapids, IA.

"We want to be back in the championship match and finish it this year," Gream said.