No. 11 Trojans Outlast Pratt and Garden City to Cap Dominant Conference Week

The No. 11 Colby Community College volleyball team capped a dominant week of KJCCC play with two statement victories, showcasing both offensive efficiency and resilience. The Trojans opened the stretch with a commanding sweep over Pratt Community College on Monday (Oct. 6) before grinding out a five-set road thriller Saturday (Oct. 4) against Garden City.

Colby opened the week in style with one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season, sweeping Pratt in straight sets behind a red-hot attack and steady all-around execution. The Trojans were nearly unstoppable, hitting a season-best .387 as a team, including a blistering .480 in the second set and .516 in the third. Colby finished with 48 kills to just 12 errors on 93 swings, maintaining complete control from start to finish in the 3-0 victory.

Outside hitter Ella Dridi led the charge with 16 kills on .429 hitting, adding five service aces, four digs, and 22 total points to headline another standout performance. Middle hitter Isadora Carrareto continued her efficient play with seven kills on .500 hitting and four block assists, while Karlotta Kattai contributed an all-around effort with 11 kills on .409 hitting, plus two assists, eight digs, and 11 total points.

At the helm, setter Amanda Caputi orchestrated the offense to perfection, dishing out 35 assists while adding three kills on six swings, two service aces, and eight digs. Her leadership guided a balanced attack that saw four Trojans hit above .400 on the day.

Off the bench, Kami Cowdrey made an immediate impact, hitting .500 with four kills and an ace, while Isabella Martins added three kills on .500 hitting and two aces. Aubree Richardson provided key depth at the net with two kills and a block assist, and Isabella Byrd anchored the defense with seven digs and an ace.

Colby also dominated from the service line, recording 12 aces to just nine errors, while defensively limiting Pratt with 10 team blocks and 33 digs. The comprehensive win showcased the Trojans' depth, balance, and precision.

Carrying that momentum into the weekend, Colby faced a much stiffer test in a five-set showdown at Garden City, but once again, the Trojans rose to the occasion. Showing exceptional poise and toughness on the road, Colby battled through momentum swings to secure another key KJCCC victory by scores of 25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, and 17-15.

Dridi once again led the offense, posting 16 kills, 22 digs, and 17.5 total points in a gritty two-way performance. Carrareto followed with nine kills on .474 hitting and a match-high eight total blocks, including three consecutive blocks in the decisive fifth set to seal the victory.

Lena Mihaljica added 14 kills on .367 hitting, three aces, and two blocks for a team-high 18 points, while Kattai recorded 12 kills, 19 digs, and three aces, continuing her strong all-around play. Martins contributed five kills and two blocks, rounding out another balanced offensive effort.

Caputi was once again the catalyst, distributing 46 assists while adding eight digs, one ace, and four block assists. Under her direction, Colby's offense hit .247, marking elite efficiency in a five set match.

Defensively, Colby's grit shined through with five players finishing in double figures for digs including Dridi (22), Kattai (19), Byrd (15), Mihaljica (11), and Caputi (8). The Trojans combined for 79 digs and 18 blocks, controlling the net and backcourt to close out the match in style.

With two more wins added to their resume, the Trojans continue to build momentum in KJCCC play, holding a perfect 9-0 conference record and sitting alone atop the standings. Riding a seven-match winning streak, Colby will look to keep the momentum rolling this week as they face Cloud County on Wednesday (Oct. 8) before returning home to the Event Center on Saturday (Oct. 11) for a marquee matchup against Hutchinson. The Trojans aim to extend their unbeaten conference run and further solidify their place as one of the NJCAA's top contenders.