'Hounds extend win streak to 8

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa -- By winning all four matches here over the weekend, Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team extended its recent winning streak to 8 matches.

The Greyhounds are 14-2 overall, last losing two weeks ago to Division I Paris (Texas) at a tournament at Vernon, Texas, and that was by 3 sets to 2.

Fort Scott's only other loss came to defending NCJAA Division II national champion Cowley on Aug. 27 at Arnold Arena.

Since the loss to Paris, Fort Scott has lost only 2 of 26 sets. Both came in this tournament on Friday.

In their first match Friday, the Division II Greyhounds defeated No. 13-ranked (D-II) Des Mounes Area, 20-25, 26-24, 27-25, 25-18. Julia Stringer was credited with 18 kills for Fort Scott, Brandi Huseman 15 and Molly Hothan 11. Kortney Blaufuss handed out 56 assists. Terina Harris recorded 24 digs, Shelbey Baker 23, Emily Bruce 14 and Blaufuss 12. Hothan had 5 blocks while Sheri Middleton and Blaufuss each had 4.

In their second match Friday night, the 'Hounds beat Lincoln Land, Ill., 3-1, by scores of 29-27, 25-23, 13-25, 25-23. Stringer picked up 20 kills, Huseman 12 and Hothan 10. Blaufuss dished 49 assists and served 2 aces. Harris led in digs with 19 followed by Huseman with 16, Blaufuss 14 and Bruce 13.

In Saturday's opener, Fort Scott swept North Iowa Area, 25-21, 25-12, 25-14. Baker had 13 kills while Hothan had 11. Blaufuss was credited with 45 assists and Baker picked up 16 digs while Bruce had 11.

Fort Scott wrapped up the tournament by sweeping Southwestern (Iowa), 25-14, 25-21, 25-16. Stringer had 11 kills while Baker had 10. Blaufuss dished 39 assists. Harris had 23 digs, Bruce 14 and Huseman 13.

Wednesday night, the 'Hounds will host Coffeyville in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division action. Both Fort Scott and Coffeyville (8-5) received votes in last week's NJCAA Division II poll.

STATS -- Stringer and Hothan are first and second, respectively, in the Eastern Division in attacking percentage. Stringer records a kill on 36.1 percent of her attempts while Hothan has a 34.2-percent rate. These rates are ranked 14th in the nation for Stringer and 19th in the nation for Hothan....

Blaufuss is sixth in the nation and second in the Eastern Division in assists per set, averaging 10.78. Lily Thornberg is the division leader and fifth in the nation with 10.89. The national leader is Teddi Wright of Pasco-Hernando, Fla., with 11.78 assists/set....

Stringer is sixth in the East in kills per set, averaging 2.96 per set. Baker and Hothan are tied for 12th at 2.35 kills/set and Huesman is 18th at 2.06 kills/set. Blair Russell of Kansas City leads the East with 3.39 kills/set....

Harris is seventh in the East in digs per set with an average of 4.82. Huseman is 10th with 3.62 digs/set and Baker is tied for 12th at 3.26....

Middleton is third in the East in blocks per set with an average of 0.88. Danika Burton of Coffeyville leads the division with a rate of 1.24 blocks/set....

NOTES -- The current eight-match win streak matches one of the same length at the beginning of the 2012 season, if one only counts matches held during a single season. The 'Hounds won their first eight matches before getting swept by Casper (Wyo.) at Vernon in the last match of the tournament. Casper was ranked No. 18 in Division I at the time.

If the final two matches of the 2011 season are included, that was a 10-match streak over two seasons....