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Panthers sweep Great Bend volleyball tournament
great bend vball
Great Bend’s Invitational volleyball champions—front row—coach Jaob Kasselman; 13 Mara Fletchall; 2 Jayden Johnson; 11 Jenna Mauler; 3 Kayli Shull; 4 Alyssa Herter; coach Colbi Brooks; back row—coach Natalie DeForest; 22 Zoe Jerke; 8 Olivia Mull; 10 Brynn Boxberger; 15 Sydney Unruh; 18 Rachel Panzer; 34 Candice Smith; coach Shelly Duvall.

Great Bend's volleyball preserved homecourt by sweeping five matches to capture Saturday's Great Bend Invitational volleyball tournament.

Great Bend (19-4) held off runner-up Hutchinson High 25-13, 23-25, 25-15; third-place Hays High 25-21, 23-25, 26-24 and state-ranked Phillipsburg 25-19, 23-25, 25-23–all in three-set matches. The Panthers could rise as high as third in the 5A western postseason records.

Beating Hutchinson won the championship for the Panthers. Jenna Mauler delivered 11 kills, 24 digs and 23 serves. Defensive standout Sydney Unruh provided 29 digs and 21 serves received. Rachel Panzer had 10 kills. Zoe Jerke had 24 assists and Alyssa Herter provided 12 assists.

GREAT BEND TOURNAMENT

1–Great Bend 5-0

2–Hutchinson 3-2

3–Hays High 3-2

4–Phillipsburg 3-2

5–Salina Central 1-4

6–Ulysses 0-5

GB vs. HUTCHINSON–Jayden Johnson 3 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs, 1 assist, 4 served received; Alyssa Herter 6 kills, 8 serves, 7 digs, 12 assists, 6 serves received; Olivia Mull 5 kills, 7 serves, 2 blocks, 1 dig, 1 serve received; Brynn Boxberger 2 kills, 1 serve, 1 block, 2 digs; Jenna Mauler 11 kills, 23 serves, 24 digs, 3 serves received; Sydney Unruh 1 kill, 6 serves, 29 digs, 21 serves received; Rachel Panzer 10 kills, 8 serves, 1 block, 15 digs, 10 serves received; Zoe Jerke 19 serves, 6 digs, 24 assists, 1 serve received. 

GB vs. HAYS HIGH–Johnson 3 kills, 2 digs, 4 assists, 4 serves received; Herter 9 kills, 12 serves, 1 block, 10 digs, 18 assists, 12 serves received; Mull 6 kills, 14 serves, 3 blocks, 7 digs, 2 serves received; Boxberger 6 kills, 12 serves, 2 digs; Mauler 12 kills, 12 serves, 8 digs, 2 assists, 9 serves received; Mara Fletchall 1 dig, 3 serves received; Unruh 1 kill, 16 digs, 1 assist, 15 serves received; Panzer 4 kills, 10 serves, 2 blocks, 15 digs, 1 assist, 15 serves received; Jerke 13 serves, 7 digs, 11 assists.

Great Bend def. Ulysses, 25-20, 25-20; Great Bend def. Hays High, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24; Great Bend def. Phillipsburg, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23; Great Bend def. Salina Central, 25-17, 25-15;  Great Bend def. Hutchinson, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15; Hutchinson def. Hays High, 25-20, 25-9; Hutchinson def. Ulysses, 25-19, 25-14; Hutchinson def. Salina Central, 25-12, 25-21;  Phillipsburg def. Hutchinson, 26-24, 25-23; Hays High def. Ulysses, 26-24, 25-18; Hays High def. Salina Central, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17; Hays High def. Phillipsburg. 15-25, 25-15, 25-17; Phillipsburg def. Salina Central, 25-7, 25-16; Phillipsburg def. Ulysses, 25-14, 25-18; Salina Central vs. Ulysses.