By the time the Neosho County Community College volleyball team returns to Chanute Saturday evening, the Panthers will had played nine matches in two states over an eight-day stretch.

Add in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference road trip to Highland Community College and the Panthers will have traveled 1,204 miles in that same eight-day stretch including a trip to Marshalltown, Iowa, Highland and two trips to Iola.

At the Marshalltown Community College Invitational, NCCC finished 2-2, beating Southwest Iowa Community College in five sets, 30-28, 25-21, 21-25, 21,25 and 15-11 and Graceland University junior varsity in three sets 25-20, 25-21 and 25-21.

The Panthers fell to Lincoln Land Community College in three sets, 25-20, 25-18 and 25-17 and Marshalltown in four sets, 18-25, 29-31,25-22 and 19-25.

"When we go to Iowa, it's always tough competition — that's why we go," Panthers Head Coach Asya Herron said Monday. "We're still having a few growing pains."

Looking at the Panthers' roster there are seven sophomores, but in reality Herron only returned one starter, outside hitter Katy Rhodd from the 30-7 overall, 8-3 conference 2013-14 season. The Panthers finished last season with a loss to Cowley Community College in the NJCAA Region VI Division II District Tournament. 

Today the Panthers hit the road for Highland for the Panthers' fourth KJCCC East match up. NCCC is 6-5 overall, 1-2 in conference play. Neosho fell to NJCAA No. 5 Kansas City Kansas Community College in three sets in Chanute Aug. 27, defeated Allen Community College in five sets in Chanute Sept. 3 and fell to No. 4 Johnson County Community College Sept. 10 in three sets.

"As far as competition, the Jayhawk is one of the best in the nation, especially at the Division 2 level," Herron said. "I think last year at one point five teams ranked in the top 25 from the Jayhawk East alone ... Every conference game is a dog fight for us."

Currently, three Jayhawk East teams are ranked in the top 20 with two more receiving votes.

Johnson County and KCK sit at No. 4 and No. 5, while Cowley is ranked No. 12. Fort Scott and Coffeyville also received votes on the Sept. 10 Top 20 NJCAA poll.

Highland is also 1-2, falling to Coffeyville and Labette and defeating Independence.

Neosho will face winless Independence (0-7,0-3) first in the Allen Community College Tournament in Iola at 3 p.m., followed by Fort Scott (14-2, 1-1) at 5 p.m.

Saturday the Panthers begin at 9 a.m. against Jayhawk West foe Dodge City Community College (4-12, 1-9) and Southeast Community College (12-4) from Lincoln, Neb. at 1 p.m.

"All of the Nebraska schools are always tough," Herron said. "It's bred in every high school girl, you're a volleyball player in Nebraska."

Any games played against Jayhawk East opponents in tournament play does not count towards conference records.

Now with in the midst of the season, Herron thinks the Panthers are settling in and expects to see improvement as the season progresses.

"I kind of thought from the beginning of the season that we would start stepping into our groove mid-September and that's kind of where we're at right now," Herron said. "Just about over the hump as far a limiting our errors and playing well with the person next to you."