On Saturday, the Lady Comets competed in the Lebanon Pink Fest Tournament.

“We battled an injury at the beginning of the day and were short another player by the end,” said Coach Ellie Crede. “We were faced with lots of adversity and changing positions midday to accommodate the players we were missing. While we did not come out on top at this tournament, we learned how to stay calm under pressure and learned ways we can work through these adversities in the moment as a team.”

In the tournament opener, the Lady Comets split with Hickman, 23-25, 25-17. Fatima lost the next three matches, falling to Lebanon (18-23, 23-25), Marshfield (21-25, 12-25), and West Plains (25-23, 20-25, 18-25).

On Wednesday, the Lady Comets swept Class 5 Battle, 25-22, 25-21, 25-22. “I am so pleased with our performance again this week,” said Crede. “The three sets against Battle were tight, and the girls remained calm and steady to play a logical game and finish each set.”

Stats: Aces: Lily Kempker, Annabelle Horton (3 each); kills: Alayna Backes (14), Kempker (7), Gracie Dickneite (6), Elizabeth Voss (5), Addison Lehmen (3); blocks: Backes (1); digs: Backes (14), Kaylee Berhorst (13), Horton (9), Leah Muenks (8), Kempker (5), Addisyn Nilges, Lehmen, Abby Robers (2 each); assists: Kempker (29), Backes (3).

In the JV contest, Fatima won 25-18, 25-18.

Alexis Powell led with three aces to go with four kills, as Emma Scheppers posted two aces, 12 assists, four digs, and two kills, CC Kleffner had two aces, nine kills, five digs, and two assists, and Quin Winkelman posted three kills and two digs.

Last Tuesday, the varsity Lady Comets knocked off Osage, 25-23, 25-19, 10-25, 28-26.

“We dropped the third set but were able to find some tenacity in the final set. The girls were able to quickly recover and regain their tempo of play.”

Stats: Aces: Horton (3), Kempker (2), Lehmen and Berhorst (1 each); kills: Backes (14), Dickneite (10), Lehmen (7), Voss (5), Kempker (4), Rogers (3), Nilges (2); blocks: Backes, Kempker (1 each); digs: Berhorst (19), Muenks (15), Kempker (12), Horton (10), Lehmen (7), Nilges (5); assists: Kempker (38), Backes (3), Berhorst (2).

Fatima won the JV match, 25-21, 25-12.

Scheppers posted three aces, three kills, and eight assists, while Lily Verslues added three aces, and Brenna Ocheskey had two aces and six assists.