Ravens place second at season opening tourney at Butler

The Coffeyville Red Ravens volleyball team opened the 2007 campaign with a sweep of Hesston College and Pratt Community College on Friday at the Butler Grizzlies Tournament in El Dorado, Kan.  Overall for the opening weekend, the Ravens finished in second place with a 3-1 tournament mark.  The Red and White have started the 2007 season with a bang. 

In the opening match of the day, CCC topped Hesston 3-1 (27-30/30-23/30-27/30-23).  Leading the scoring attack for the Ravens was sophomore Jessica Seichepine.  The Nortonville, Kan. native carded 23 kills to lead the team in the opening match.  Sophomores Morgan Wyatt and Victoria Thomas also posted double figures in kills with 12.  Tagata Fo’a registered 45 assists against CAU. Wyatt led the stellar defense with 26 digs, and libero Jessica Giesen added 20 digs.

The Ravens followed up the season-opening win by beating the Lady Beavers of Pratt 3-1 (29-31/ 30-20/30-21/30-19).  Seichepine lead the team again with 17 kills and 12 digs. Wyatt added 8 kills.  Tagata Fo'a (aka people) the quarterback of the team had 40 assist. 

“We started off the season in the right direction,” said CCC head volleyball coach Delice Downing.  “We are looking to get better match-by-match.  This was a good confidence builder today.  Our team is extremely experienced and athletic. I could not ask for a better group of girls. They are true gamers.

Saturdays matches were exciting and it was a great day for volleyball. The Ravens opened the day with a sweep against Cedar Valley 3-0 (30-14/30-26/30-21); which gave the Ravens an undefeated 3-0 record. This was a great match to get everyone in the game. The Ravens have one of the strongest benches in the conference. Jessica Delinger gave the team great rotations when she is playing defense and offense. She provided 2 aces, and 3 kills out of 3 attempts. Brianna Lee also contributed with 3 kills out of 3 attempts.

The Ravens then had to sit for five hours as they waited to play the championship match vs. Butler County. They lost the match 3-1 (30-20/28-30/26-30/27-30).

“I cannot say that it was the long wait that took us mentally because we came out looking great," said Downing, noting they won the first game 30-20.  The crowd was behind the home team and pushed them to victory. They had great ball control.

Leading the team was Thomas with 10 kills, 9 digs, 6 blocks and 8 aces. She had a great all around game. Katy Bowen had 8 kills, 11 digs. Seichepine and Giesen led the defense with 23 and 18 digs apiece.  With the 3-1 win/lost record this weekend, the Ravens are off to the best start to a season since 1999. 

Jessica Seichepine made the All-Tournament Team.

CCC will have back-to-back home matches on Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Tuesday, the Ravens will play host to Mid-America Nazarene JV with first serve at 7 p.m. in newly air conditioned Nellis Hall East.  On Wednesday, the Ravens will play Independence beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Nellis Hall.