Playoff-bound 'Hounds face Cottey Friday

Although Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team has won just one of its last three matches, that victory Monday night put the Greyhounds into the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 season.

Friday, the Greyhounds went to visit Cowley, the defending NJCAA Division II national champion and the nation's No. 1-ranked team. The Tigers won that match in three sets, 25-16, 25-16, 25-19. With a sweep of Allen Monday night and a 3-1 win over No. 12 Johnson County Wednesday night, Cowley has won its last 55 matches.

Monday, the Greyhounds swept Labette at Arnold Arena, 25-16, 25-19, 25-14. This clinched the Region VI Division II playoff berth as the 'Hounds went on to finish in sixth place after winning a seeding tie-breaker over Neosho County.

Haylee Toothman had 32 kills in that match while Ali Cure had 25 and Ashley Bell finished with 18. Taylyn Schwartz had 42 assists. Cure picked up 18 digs while Schwartz had 15 and Smith had 14.

Wednesday night, the Greyhounds finished conference play with a 25-20, 25-15, 26-24 loss at Coffeyville, which finished in second place in the final Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division standings behind Cowley.

Fort Scott finished conference play 4-6 and stands at 22-11 overall. Cowley is 10-0, 33-0 and Coffeyville is 8-2, 26-10. No statistics were available from the Coffeyville match.

The Greyhounds will tune up for the playoffs with a home match Friday night against Cottey College at Arnold Arena. Match time is 6:30 p.m. They will go to the District N Tournament at Coffeyville on Nov. 3. That tournament includes Coffeyville, Neosho County and Kansas City Kansas. No. 11 KCK (27-6) will be Fort Scott's first-round opponent.