By James Howey
Sports Editor
After their worst tournament of the season at Kansas City Kansas Community College, the Cavs move forward with two tough conference opponents looming at the end of the season. The squad went a disappointing 2–2 over the weekend. The Cavs got swept by Iowa Western and lost to Coffeyville 3–1, whom they swept at the beginning of the year.
“[At the] beginning of the year we played fearless and with unforced errors,” head volleyball coach Jennifer Ei said. “Now we’re making stupid mistakes because we are holding on to our mistakes rather than letting them go.”
The Cavs were not at full strength through the tournament, with Maren Mair still dealing with an ankle injury, and Tori Kerr had an illness the day of the Coffeyville game. Ei says that the Cavs right now have not shown the same fire they displayed at the beginning of the season.
“I think at the beginning of the year, with the talent we have on this team, I believe that a lot of them were fighting for playing time and pushing each other,” Ei said. “I think now they have lost some of that fight because it’s like ‘OK, these people are starting and these people aren’t starting,’ and they have to get back to pushing each other.”
The team plays Fort Scott Community College at home today at 5:30 p.m., and they travel to Cowley Community College next week. The Cavs are 7–0 in conference, and if they win both games they will clinch home court for district play. Splitting will also give the Cavs home court, but losing both will most likely put the Cavs on the road. Fort Scott is a tough foe for the Cavs, with a record of 25–8 and a conference record of 5–2 on the season. Even with the tough competition, Ei says the Cavs doing what they can do is the biggest objective they need to focus on.
“We need to be able to play like we did in the beginning,” Ei said. “We need to be able to have that excitement and that fun.”