DURANT, Iowa Thursday was the beginning of a new season for the West Liberty High School volleyball team.

Entering their showdown with Durant, the Comets had lost two competitive matches in the previous five days to Pleasant Valley and West Branch, blemishing a previously-undefeated record.

Instead of lamenting the lost unbeaten mark, West Liberty has left it behind. Durant avoided a sweep with a comeback victory in the third set, but the Comets responded with a dominant fourth set, finishing off the Wildcats 3-1 at Durant High School on Thursday night.

The Class 3A No. 7 Comets (25-2, 7-1 RVC) won 25-14, 25-19, 26-24, 25-10.

Audra Bridenstine had a Comet-best 19 kills and Hailey Daufeldt added 17 kills with two blocks. Durants Shannon Telsrow led the 2A No. 10 Wildcats (17-5, 6-2) with 18 kills, including eight in the victorious third set.

We werent hoping to go four, West Liberty coach Ruben Galvan said, but I think it showed great character on our part to settle down after a shaky start to figure it out and beat a very good Durant team.

The Wildcats were down a key player Thursday after Sarah Nanninga had to get an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday morning. Nanninga was present to root her team on, but her presence as Durants key middle hitter was sorely missed, Durant coach Renee Meyer said.

Even without Nanninga, Meyer noted that Durants passing was the major downfall against the Comets.

It was terrible, Meyer said. Yes, its a different six on the court [without Nanninga] but its not like the other girls hadnt been there playing before.

I like that we fought back in that third set to win that, but tonight had to start with our passing and it just wasnt there.

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Comets regroup, stop losing streak with strong win at Durant