WACO junior Molly Edgar goes up for a block in a game versus the Centerville Big Red during the Warrior’s opening season tournament Monday evening. Photo by Nate Gonner.

Despite being the only Class 1A team in their own tournament and the shortest in the gym,  the WACO Warriors volleyball squad (2-2 overall) showed a lot of positive things in their opening season tournament Monday evening. The 2015 WACO Volleyball tournament included seven total teams: Centerville, Columbus, Pekin, Van Buren, West Burlington, and Wapello. The Warriors played four matches yesterday evening, winning two and losing two. The victories came in straight sets the Columbus Wildcats (21-12, 21-16) and Van Buren Warriors (21-15, 23-21) in pool play. The Warriors lost to the Centerville Big Red (12-21, 12-21) in pool play, and fell to the Wapello Arrows (22-25, 19-25) in the tournament’s consolation match.

Head coach Jay Coble was pleased with his team’s performance, “I think when you go into a seven team tournament and you are the only 1A school here, there’s a 3A team and everyone else is 2A, a 2-2 record you feel comfortable with.” Coble said, “Our biggest issue is lack of size, 5-foot-9 for our setter and everyone else is 5-foot-7 or 5-foot-6, we are just very short.”

Coble added he was the most pleased about how his team’s upbeat tempo stayed consistent for nearly the entire tournament. Junior Hallie Kissel recorded 38 assists over the four matches, dug up 27 balls, and scored on six aces. Junior McKenna White led the team with 31 digs as the Warriors’ libero. Juniors Mayme Hinh and Molly Edgar combined for seven blocks over the course of the evening.

WACO volleyball moves to 2-2 overall to begin the season. The Warriors will hold their first Southeast Iowa Super Conference match next Thursday, hosting the Highland Huskies (2-1 overall) at Bob Hilmer Court in Wayland.