It’s not a home tournament, but it’s starting to feel like it.
In consecutive years, West Liberty’s volleyball team dominated the Muscatine ‘Muskie’ Invitational with a perfect 4-0 run through pool play to claim the championship win.
The Comets needed some good mojo and got it after suffering a pair of losses earlier in the week. They rebounded and have now won five in a row, with a record sitting at 8-3.
At the start of the week, on Tuesday, the Comets matched up against a pair of ranked opponents as they face Clear Creek-Amana (Class 4A No. 4) and Solon (Class 3A No. 9) in a four-team event hosted by West Branch.
In their first matchup against Solon, the Comets grabbed the opening set 26-24 in a back-and-forth affair with the Spartans.
The Comets failed to seal the match in the second set, falling 25-19.
In a winner take all third set, the Comets were overcome once again by the Spartans, while being help to just nine points. The Spartans took the match two sets to one.
Their second matchup came against Clear Creek-Amana and the Clippers set the tone in the first set, holding the Comets to 10 points as they ran away 25-10 victors.
The Comets were able to rebound in the second set, and while unsuccessful in forcing a third, they managed a much tighter second set, falling 25-23 against a Clippers squad with eyes on returning to the state title game as they did in 2022.
On Thursday, the Comets returned to form in conference play against the Tigers in front of the KCRG 9.2 camera crew.
Despite falling behind early in the first set, the Comets’ determination prevailed as they took the first set 25-19 in a set that was much closer than the score would indicate.
The second set saw the Comets seize control early and cruise to a 25-17 victory.
The Tigers fought valiantly to stave off a home court sweep, forcing the final set into extra point, but the Comets would not be denied, grabbing a 26-24 victory.
On Saturday in Muscatine, the Comets swept through Burlington, Williamsburg and Muscatine to win the Muskie Invite.
The only resistance came from conference rival Durant. The Wildcats are always a tough opponent for the Comets in this early season and Saturday was no exception.
The Wildcats stole the first set 21-17 before the Comets bounced back with a 21-19 victory in the second.
The Comets required extra points before being able to put their opponents away, as the Comets squeezed out a 17-15 victory in the decider.
So far this season, the Comets have a balanced offensive attack featuring juniors Sophie Buysse, Kaylee Pelzer and senior Ava Morrison all between 50 and 65 kills on the season.
Morrison and Pelzer are the most efficient attackers, each ending points at a 32 percent clip.
Sophomore Emma Yoder has taken over primary setter duties this season and has already racked up 192 assists.
Defensively, everybody is chipping in their own way.
Senior Gabriella Morales leads the way with 125 digs but is followed closely by Buysse (101), sophomore Tenley Nixt (70), Yoder (62) and junior Jayleen Kivi (43).
The Comets only have 14 blocks as a team, but junior Mallory Wulf has eight of them.
On the serving side, Yoder leads the Comets with 11 aces. Pelzer has nine and there is a three-way tie for third place as Buysse, Nixt and Morales all have seven.
Morales is by far the team’s most efficient server, with only three errors in 97 service attempts this season.
Looking ahead on the schedule, West Liberty returns to conference action on Thursday at home against Mid-Prairie.
Then, the Comets will hit the road again for tournament play in Williamsburg on Saturday for an eight-school event.