The West Liberty volleyball season came to a close last Thursday night following a 3-2 loss to Anamosa on the road.
The Comets finished the season 32-12 overall and 7-2 in conference play, grabbing an RVC South tournament title in the process.
Playing away from home, the Comets faced a tough task facing hosts Anamosa in their regional semi-final matchup.
The Comets handled the pressure to near perfection in the early going, taking a 6-1 lead and forcing a Raider timeout.
West Liberty continued to control the pace in the first set, imposing their will on their opponents and taking a 25-14 victory in the first set.
Things turned in the second set, after being forced to take an early timeout, Comets coach Ruben Galvan was forced to take his second timeout of the set trailing 15-11.
Anamosa proceeded to go on an 10-1 run down the stretch and take the second set and even the match at one set all.
The Comets regained momentum in the third set, running ahead to a 25-21 victory to put themselves one away from the regional final.
All was going to plan for the Comets in the fourth set as the Comets took a 12-9 advantage at the mid-point and forcing an Anamosa timeout.
However, the momentum swung quickly, as the Comets found themselves trailing 21-20 late in the second set before a 4-1 Anamosa run put the match into the fifth set.
Once again, the Comets took control of the deciding set early.
The Comets saw their lead dissipate as Anamosa claimed the lead 12-11 and the Comets failed to reclaim the lead as they fell 15-13 in the final set.
The Comets’ junior captain, Sophie Buysse, tried to anchor the Comets on both sides of the net, putting together 21 digs and 18 kills along with a pair of aces.
West Liberty’s offense was outdone by the Raiders who recorded more kills and more blocks to ultimately add to the difference in the match.
A pair of blocks by Rilee Han put together a fantastic outing for the senior in her final contest as a Comets, but was outdone or matched by three different Blue Raiders.
The youthful Comet roster will regroup for next season will return four key upperclassmen next season in Gabby Morales, Sophie Buysse, and Kaylee Pelzer and Ava Morrison.
Morales led this Comets team in digs with 586 digs, Buysse was tops on the team with 336 kills, and Pelzer was third with 211 kills and served a team-high 49 aces.
Additionally, Morrison led the team with 643 assists, and freshman Emma Yoder stepped into a secondary role with 352 assists.
These two have filled in nicely for longtime varsity staple Brooklyn Buysse, who continues her volleyball career at Wartburg College.
The loss to Anamosa concluded the high school volleyball careers of Laney Esmoil, Rilee Han, Maelyn Wainwright, and Alyssa Sanchez.
Wainwright and Han were formidable forces at the net. Wainwright recorded 214 kills and 50 blocks while Han tallied 190 kills and 58 blocks.
Esmoil was one of six Comets with at least 50 kills this season, and Sanchez recorded eight kills in 19 attacks during limited action this season.
This will not be the last time fans see these players in action as many will step back into the Comet blue for other sports including wrestling, basketball, track and field, and soccer.