WEST LIBERTY, Iowa Ruben Galvan says that this seasons West Liberty High School volleyball team is off to the best start of any team hes coached in his 13 seasons at West Liberty. <\/p>\n
The Comets have a 19-0 record one of just four unbeaten teams left in the state regardless of classification and Galvan is quick to point out that such an achievement was only possible through the sum of the teams parts, not just through one person. <\/p>\n
Galvan illustrated that point by recalling the effect that was felt by the Class 3A No. 7 Comets when Audra Bridenstine, an experienced junior outside hitter, had a bit of a slump two weeks ago when West Liberty played Iowa City Regina and Tipton. <\/p>\n
She had a rough week of practice and games, and we didnt look as sharp as we have because of her not being as sharp as she can be, Galvan said. <\/p>\n
While the Comets got through that week with straight-set victories over the Regals and the Tigers, Bridenstine worked through her issues, scoring 16 kills for the Comets at last weekends Mid-Prairie tournament, including a team-leading six kills in the championship match with the Golden Hawks. <\/p>\n
Im not even sure if I figured out how to get back in the groove, but I just cleared my mind and just let whatever happens happens, Bridenstine said. Even when Im not hitting my best, my teams always picking me up and it seems that me and [setter] Cassedi [Simon] connect. <\/p>\n
Bridenstine has remained a consistent threat at outside hitter along with Kayla Kaalberg, flanking middle hitter and leading attacker Hailey Daufeldt. Shes on pace to match her kill numbers from last season, with 85 kills in 44 sets thus far. <\/p>\n
More notably, shes emerged as the teams most efficient server after not offering up one serve throughout her sophomore season. Bridenstine has converted 101 of 105 serves and has 14 service aces. <\/p>\n
This seasons team is nearly identical to last seasons group with the exception of one senior, Merideth Nichols, graduating after the Comets bowed out in the opening round of the regional tournament in 2013. <\/p>\n
But last season's team was wrestling with improving upon the success of teams in the previous two seasons, including the 2011 squad that went to the state tournament. <\/p>\n
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Settling in: West Liberty's Bridenstine finds her way, role for unbeaten Comets<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WEST LIBERTY, Iowa Ruben Galvan says that this seasons West Liberty High School volleyball team is off to the best start of any team hes coached in his 13 seasons at West Liberty. The Comets have a 19-0 record one of just four unbeaten teams left in the state regardless of classification and Galvan is quick to point out that such an achievement was only possible through the sum of the teams parts, not just through one person. Galvan illustrated that point by recalling the effect that was felt by the Class 3A No Continue reading