Panthers own home-court advantage

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The last time Great Bend lost back-to-back volleyball matches, they won 15 consecutive matches. The Panthers need two consecutive wins Saturday to earn a berth at the 5A state volleyball tournament.

Great Bend’s 15-match winning streak was snapped by Liberal 25-15, 17-25, 25-20. Garden City handed the Panthers back-to-back losses, 25-19, 25-16. 

WAC runner-up Great Bend (27-6) plays Salina South (14-21) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the 5A volleyball substate. Goddard (31-7) plays Valley Center (15-19) with the winners advancing to Saturday’s 5A substate championship. Goddard downed the Panthers 19-25, 25-19, 25-17 Sept. 26.

“The one dream that every volleyball girl has is to step onto that state tournament court,” said Great Bend coach Shelly Duvall. “Ultimately, it comes down to one day. You’ve got to focus on your mental toughness.”

Duvall said Saturday will be the highlight of her coaching career.

“It’s a big opportunity,” she said. “Having a home seed is a big advantage. We feel good about this weekend. When the girls see the support, it’s a huge boost.”

Great Bend’s Jenna Mauler leads with 199 kills followed by Rachel Panzer (185), Olivia Mull (170) and Brynn Boxberger (150). Zoe Jerke has delievered 376 serves and Mauler 324. Sydney Unruh has 403 digs, Mauler 298 and Panzer 195. Jerke has 428 assists and Alyssa Harter 338. Unruh has handled 456 serves and Panzer 235.  

“We make sure we’re constantly encouraging them.,” Duvall said. “We want to make it positive. We let them know they can do anything.”

3A HOISINGTON — No. 3 ranked Beloit (34-3) plays Larned (2-33) and last year’s 3A state qualifier Hoisington (14-22) plays Cimarron (19-14) in a rematch of last year’s 3A substate championship.   

2A WAKEENEY — No. 5 state-ranked Smith Center (31-4) and No. 10 ranked Ellinwood (31-4) are seeded to meet in the WaKeeney volleyball substate.

1A RANSOM — Regional champion Central Plains (27-11) plays Thunder Ridge (32-6) in the first round. 

1A GREENSBURG — Regional runner-up St. John (22-16) plays South Gray (28-9) in the first round.  

5A WEST

MAIZE—Emporia 9-24 vs. Andover Central, 8-28, 1 p.m.; Maize South 36-2 vs. Emporia/Andover Central winner; Wichita Northwest 24-14 vs. Hays High 20-12

WICHITA—Maize High 12-25 vs. Salina Central 6-29, 1 p.m.; Wichita Carroll 31-6 cs. Maize/Salina Central winner; Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 24-10 vs. Newton 19-15

ANDOVER—Andover 30-6 vs. Arkansas City, 2 p.m.; 26-10 McPherson vs. Goddard Eisenhower 20-16

GREAT BEND—Great Bend 27-6 vs. Salina South 14-21, 2 p.m.; Goddard 31-7 vs. Valley Center 15-19

3A HOISINGTON—Beloit 34-3 vs. Larned 2-33, 2 p.m.; Cimarron 19-14 vs. Hoisington 14-22; Hays-Thomas More Prep 31-6 vs. Russell 6-26, 2 p.m.; Lyons 28-9 vs. SW Heights 9-25 

2A WAKEENEY—Smith Center 31-4 vs. Oakley 3-27; Hoxie 21-12 vs. Plainville 16-16; Ellinwood 31-4 vs. Ellis 8-18; WaKeeney-Trego 22-11 vs. Hill City 17-18

1A RANSOM

A—Wheatland 31-7 vs. Atwood Rawlins County 25-11, 1 p.m.; Central Plains 27-11 vs. Thunder Ridge 32-6

B—Golden Plains 31-6 vs. Victoria 21-13, 5 p.m.; Logan 28-12 vs. Wallace County 23-13

1A GREENSBURG

A—Minneola 30-8 vs. Meade 24-14, 1 p.m.; Little River 29-9 vs. Attica 32-8  

B—Cunningham 33-6 vs. Kinsley 20-17, 5 p.m.; South Gray 28-9 vs. St. John 22-16

1A ROSALIA

A—Chetopa 36-5 vs. Coffey County 13-21, 1 p.m.; Goessel 19-18 vs. Udall 24-14 

B—Argonia 32-3 vs. Burrton 17-19, 5 p.m.; Olpe 28-10 vs. Oswego 26-14

1A CENTRALIA

A—Rural Vista 36-4 vs. Valley Falls 18-21, 1 p.m.; Lincoln 25-12 vs. Frankfort 23-14 

B—Centralia 32-6 vs. Burlingame 22-12, 5 p.m.; Clifton Clyde 27-11 vs. Beloit St. John’s 31-8