Five DCCC volleyball players injured in car accident

    Dodge City Community College Conquistadors head volleyball coach Shaun Pohlman's season of continued improvement in 2009 got a little harder last week.
    Five members of the 14-player volleyball team were involved in a car accident Wednesday evening at the corner of 14th Avenue and Spruce Street, by the Best Western hotel. As a result, the Conqs were unable to travel to Roswell, N.M., for their season opener Friday against Frank Phillips in the New Mexico Military Institute Classic Tournament.
    While no one sustained serious injuries, Pohlman said Liberal native and team captain outside hitter Janelle Burnett suffered a grade-four concussion as a result of the crash. She is expected to miss the entire season.
    Pohlman also said the team's two alternating captains are scheduled to miss the next two weeks of competition.
    Sophomores Shayla McMurdo of Smith Center and Mikaela Holsten of Ensign suffered minor injuries and were able to practice Saturday, but they will likely miss the team's home opener Wednesday against Barton County.
    "It's still the same team," Pohlman said Saturday. "We still have the same view — get to the top."
    The Conqs finished 21-19 last season, an improvement from their final mark of 4-31 in 2007, Pohlman's first year as head coach.
    Dodge will host Barton at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at DCCC.