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GBMS volleyball teams sweep Holcomb titles
GBMS volleyball
Members of the Great Bend Middle School eighth-grade volleyball team—manager Kimberly Escobedo, manager Halle Post, Abigal Miller, Ava Gregg, Lauryn Davis, Lilly Drew, and Taylour Yoder. Sierra Ferguson, Taylor Lashley, Macy Nachtigal, Annah Baldwin, Ashton McMillen, Sadie Spray, Harley Dougherty, and Rylee Prilling. Manager Khloe Johns, Kaylin Wahlmeier, Makenzie Premer, Emilee Hall, Paige Thexton, Maleigha Ribordy, Cailee Moder and Brittan Webb.

HOLCOMB — The Great Bend Middle School eighth-graders rallied past Scott City 4-15, 15-7, 17-5 in the championship match of the Holcomb Volleyball Tournament Saturday. The A team improved to 6-0.

The GBMS B team duplicated the feat with a 15-4, 15-6 victory over Scott City.

Scott City swept the first set 15-4, before the Panthers regrouped for a 15-7 victory.  Scott City led 13-5 in the third set when Macy Nachtigal swung the momentum with a serving spree for a 14-14 tie. 

Scott City aced the next serve taking the lead 15-14 but a smart tip by Emilee Hall forced a 15-15 tie. Makenzie Premer aced a serve and Scott City touched the next serve as it was traveling out of bounds giving the A-team back-to-back championships.  

“I’m very proud of these girls and the fact they don’t give up on themselves or each other,” said Great Bend coach Michelle Barber. “We need to work on not digging large holes, But as the season progresses, the girls will continue to gain confidence and the intensity will come.”

Great Bend started with a 15-3, 15-0 victory over Dodge City Comanche. Lauryn Davis, Emilee Hall and Paige Thexton served a combined 16 aces. Davis served all 15 points in the second set.  

The Panthers swept past Cimarron 15-11, 15-3 and Garden City Ken Henderson 15-6, 15-5. Holcomb led 11-4 before the Panthers rallied for 15-13, 15-9 victory. 

“Coach Shelly Duvall has built an amazing high school program and includes the middle school players in a lot of the activities,” Barber said. “This has inspired the girls to want to continue to improve and not settle for being OK.”

GREAT BEND B TEAM — The GBMS B-team rode the momentum of a victory over Holcomb to sweep past Scott City 15-4, 15-6 for the championship. The B team improved to 6-0.

“I’m impressed how the girls have come together as a team,” said Great Bend coach Jo Smith. “We need to work on intensity and focus but I’m sure we’ll get there.

GBMS started with a 15-9, 15-5 sweep over Dodge City Comanche. Kaylin Wahlmeier served five and Maleigha Ribordy had three aces.

The Lady Panthers rolled past Cimarron and rallied past Garden City Ken Henderson from a 13-4 deficit behind the play of Taylor Lashley.  Great Bend beat Holcomb in the semifinals.