Box Score ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. - Playing four matches on the road in a span of 48 hours is always a tough prospect, but having the first of those matches a conference tilt against the no. 1 team in the country is even more daunting. Highland (18-4, 2-2 KJCCC) was up to the challenge, however, taking Cowley (14-0, 4-0 KJCCC) to extra points in the first set before ultimately falling 3-0 (26-28, 13-25, 18-25) on Wednesday.
The defending national champs opened up a 6-3 lead early in the first set, but Highland was able to respond, tying the first set at 7-7.
Midway through the first set, each team lost a challenge, keeping the momentum well in check of the match.
Andrea Keller was the first to ask for a review, as a Cowley attack down the line forced the line judge to recoil to avoid being hit. As she jumped back, the line judge's flag went up but then emphatically signaled kill. The review confirmed the initial call, leaving Highland trailing 12-10.
Two rallies later, Cowley head coach Steven Gream called for a review, this time on an attack error that was ruled no touch at the net. Again, the review confirmed the initial call, sending serve back to the Scotties trailing 13-11.
Cowley was able to stretch to a four-point lead, but the Scotties rallied to level the set at 21-21.
Cara Elam and
Tailyn Kadavy set up an aggressive block on the right side forcing Cowley's outside to hit her attack into the antenna, cutting HCC's deficit to 21-18.
Cami Dalinghaus came into serve and was able to draw a ball-handling error with a late-curling serve, with
Cierra Poldberg joining Kadavy on the block to reject Lana Gomilanovic's swing. Poldberg and Kadavy were able to force Gomilanovic to hit it wide on the next point, forcing Cowley into a timeout.
After the break, Kadavy victimized the Cowley block to tie the first set at 21-21, hitting an opposite shot off the inside arm and down.
The Scotties were the first to reach set point, as a drop serve attempt by Cowley sailed long. Highland had a pair of chances to close the set out as
Karsyn Kempinger drove home a kill to put HCC up 25-24 and
Cali Honeyman drew a blocking error to give the Scotties a 26-25 lead, but Cowley was able to string together three rallies to close out the first.
Highland held close with the Tigers in the third set but weren't able to finish off a late comeback attempt.
Next up in the four-game road trip is a split doubleheader, as Highland takes on Seminole State College at 11 a.m. Thursday before continuing south to battle Rose State College at 5:30 p.m.
