The eighth-grade Great Bend Middle School volleyball team has endured a crazy schedule. After playing a tournament and a triangular after five days of practice, the team was idle for two weeks. 

The eighth-grade rallied with four wins in five matches with a trip to Hays and a home triangular meet.

“It was hard keeping the intensity up with the girls not playing for a couple of weeks,” said Michelle Barber, 8th-grade A volleyball coach. “These girls have the need to win and have done what it takes to be successful.” 

In Hays, the A-team quickly got back into rhythm beating Dodge City Comanche 25-15 and 25-19 followed by Dodge City Middle School 25-19 and 25-22.   

The Lady Panthers used a homecourt edge to beat Garden City Horace Good 25-20, 17-25 before rallying for an exciting 18-16 victory after trailing 16-15.

The Panthers used strong serving for a 25-7, 25-23 victory against Dodge City Middle School to keep the momentum going.  

They didn’t quite pass their last challenge, losing 25-22, 25-13. The A-team has a record of 10-2.

“Salina South is a good team and the girls battled hard, we just didn’t have our best game,” Barber said. “The girls learned they can’t dig a hole and always come back to win.”