Coaches evaluate volleyball team potential with scrimmages

Davis County hosted Cardinal, Albia and Moravia for a four-team volleyball scrimmage Tuesday.

Cardinal played each for 30 minutes, with no score kept.

“The girls played well,” Cardinal coach Candice Guiter said. “They are younger than most varsity players so their nerves got the best of them a few times throughout the night.”

Cardinal was 9-17 last season when Josie Courtney, Riley Bears, Olivia Pilcher, and Sydney Pickrell were juniors.

“Our seniors helped lead the girls past those feelings of nervousness while playing the other matches,” Guiter said.

The Comets play in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South Division, where they posted a 1-7 match record in 2020.

“Tuesday night was a great start to our season,” Guiter said. “It was easy to adjust and make necessary changes. I’m excited for our official season to begin.”

The Comets have another scrimmage to play when they travel to Eddyville Saturday.

The official season begins with a true test of the Comets abilities. Cardinal opens on the road in Burlington against the defending Class 1A champion Notre Dame Nikes.

Notre Dame was 19-5 overall and 5-3 in the South. Coronavirus issues early in the season were overcome and the Nikes won the Class 1A state title.

The Comets aspire to the stats the Nikes put up, 32 assists per set, 35 kills per set, 95 kill attempts with an efficiency of .241.

Cardinal was at 12.5 assists per set, 14. 3 kills, 68 attempts and an efficiency of .77.

“Mistakes being made were nothing significant,” Guiter said. “The girls really have worked hard since we started open gym in July and it showed.