Grizzlies get first taste of outside competition in KJCCC Scrimmages

The Butler Grizzlies got their first taste of action in the 2022 season as they hosted the KJCCC Scrimmages at the Power Plant on Saturday, as nearly every team in the conference was represented in an entire day of action.

The Grizzlies' day consisted of three scrimmages of two games against Fort Scott, Coffeyville, and Neosho. Butler swept the two games against Fort Scott before splitting the two sets against Coffeyville, dropping the first game despite coming back from an early deficit. Butler finished the day with a sweep against Neosho.

"Against Coffeyville, we had a lot of unforced errors but we never quit, even though we got down by a lot," head Coach Lisa Lecthenberg said, "and they turned around and came back with the mentality of 'That was our fault' and put it away in the third match was the most encouraging."

"We had a lot of players that played well, Rainey Aven was a solid setter and all of our middles played well. It was just overall a really good day," said Lecthenberg.

The Grizzlies will have one more scrimmage before the season begins in earnest, traveling to Emporia to face the Emporia State Hornets on Tuesday.

"We had so many players play well today that I don't have a solid lineup," mentioned Lecthenberg. "I could give you maybe three starters and from there it's open.

We're going to Emporia and everyone will play in both matches a lot, and we'll see who comes out of it to start on the floor on Friday when the season opens."

The Grizzlies open the season on Friday, August 19 against the No. 1 team in the NJCAA and back-to-back defending national champions Iowa Western on their home floor.