'Hounds break long drought

EL DORADO -- It's been a long time coming for head coach Sonya Petroski, but she finally gained her first victory as Fort Scott Community College's head volleyball coach here this past weekend.

Although FSCC went just 1-2 in the Butler Invitational, the victory over Labette broke a 37-match losing streak overall and 59 matches to junior colleges. Petroski suffered through 31 of those losses herself as a first-year head coach last season.

The Greyhounds lost to Butler in their first match, three games to none. The Grizzlies, ranked No. 12 in the nation in Division II, won 25-23, 25-10, 25-23.

Next, the 'Hounds defeated Labette, 26-24, 25-21, 25-22. It was Fort Scott's first victory since Oct. 20, 2007, when it beat the Sterling College junior varsity. For the Greyhounds' last victory over another junior college, one has to go back to an Oct. 20, 2006 match against Northern Oklahoma-Enid.

Although this was not a Jayhawk Conference match, Fort Scott hadn't beaten another conference team since sweeping Labette on Sept. 27, 2006.

In Fort Scott's last match, Neosho County took a 25-20, 25-21, 25-20 sweep.

The Greyhounds will look to break a 21-match losing streak in conference play Wednesday night when they travel to Overland Park to take on Division II No. 3 Johnson County. Fort Scott's first home match will be Monday night against Longview (Mo.)