Johnson County Cavaliers (29-5 8-0) vs Cowley Tigers (22-7 8-0)
By James Howey
Sports Editor
Where: Arkansas City, Kansas
When: 5:30
How to watch: Cowley College – Cowley Sports Network
The Cavaliers and Tigers will put another chapter in their storied rivalry tonight when they square off in a de facto conference championship game. The Cavs will be without their six-foot freshman Maren Mair, who has been a huge part of the squad’s success. The Cavs possess plenty of depth from top to bottom with a lot of players they can mix in against Cowley. Bizzy Chilcoat is moving to the middle, which she has played most of her volleyball career before joining the Cavs. Cowley will be sure to pack the house and pose a fiery environment with an “orange out” they have planned for the game. Aliya Higginbotham leads the Tigers in kills with 353 on the season, with three other players over 200 kills for the squad. The Cavs defeated the Tigers earlier in the season 3–0 in the Kirkwood tournament, but look for this to be a potential five-set match.
Players to watch:
Cavaliers: Bizzy Chilcoat, Michelle Tennant, Anna Bell, Jordan Morrison and Stevie Sherard
Tigers: Aliya Higginbotham, Olivia Powell, Kenna Hall and Logan Morrow
Coach Ei on the transition of moving the lineups around:
- “Because we have versatile players, it’s been easier [to move the lineup around] than we thought.”
- “I think they are kind of used to the changes now. I think they’ve also gotten in for a lot more individual work, and they are more confident in their positions.”
Coach Ei on Chilcoat moving to the middle:
- “She’s very quick laterally, in the air, has a quick arm swing and she’s played middle half her volleyball career.”