5A Great Bend matched Manhattan's firepower at the net, but the Indians outlasted the Great Bend Panthers 25-22, 24-26, 25-20 in a classic 3-set volleyball matchup. Manhattan (5-7) had played a strong schedule to give Great Bend (9-1) a strong test.
Great Bend performed at a higher level against Hays High for a 25-23, 25-16 Western Athletic Conference victory.
MANHATTAN MATCH – Manhattan's 6-foot-1 Tatum Tindall and Jaden McGee delivered the big points in set 1. The Panthers countered with winning spikes by 5-9 Kara Feist, who contributed three consecutive winners for a 21-17 score. Kya Behr, Sadie Spray and 5-11 Cassie Ellegood delivered winners.
But the Panthers' unforced errors proved to be the difference.
Set 2 swung the Panthers way. Behr continued strong play at the net. Denver Ringo provided a spark with a pair of winning points. Ellegood hit back-to-back winners for a 20-17 lead, but the Panthers had to battle to the finish.
Ringo tipped a winner and Feist followed with back-to-back winners for a 25-24 lead. Spray finished off the Indians 26-24 with a winner.
Manhattan's Tindall and the clever 5-7 Bailey Busch sparked the Indians to a 16-10 lead that the Panthers were unable to overcome. Makenzie Premer and Spray hit winners to draw the Panthers within 16-14 and 19-17. Busch swung the momentum back the Indians' way with a pair of winners. Ellie Wilson and Tindall handed the Indians a 23-18 lead.
Behr hit a winner, but the Panthers missed a serve and hit the volleyball into the net to lose the third set 25-20. Feist and Behr delivered seven winners. Behr provided 64 assists.
"We learned mistakes can cost you a game. The Manhattan loss is due to our errors," said Great Bend coach Shelly Duvall. "Manhattan took us apart like we've been doing to teams prior to that match. They had great players. But we didn't play our best. I have no doubt we could've beaten Manhattan. The more mistakes we make, our chance of winning goes down."
HAYS MATCH – The Panthers played with similar intensity, but with fewer unforced errors to beat the Hays High Indians. After a tight 25-23 first set, the Panthers minimized their ballhandling mistakes to earn the victory.
Ellegood, Spray and Premer delivered second-set winners that ignited a celebration after beating rival Hays High. Ellegood had eight winners. Spray provided 43 assists when Behr missed court time. Spray contributed 43 assists, nine digs and 14 serves.
Duvall relies on six quality seniors. But the Panthers' depth is paying dividends.
"It's nice to have quality depth. Every one of our six seniors can play every position," Duvall said. "When Kya Behr went out for a while, we had players jump in. Our sophomores stepped in and hit outside while our seniors filled in. We need to utilize every tool we have."
Manhattan def. Great Bend, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20; STATS–WINNERS Feist 7, Behr 7, Premer 5, Ellegood 5; SERVES–Feist 16, Lauryn Davis 14; BLOCKS-–Spray 3, Feist 3; DIGS–Macy Nachtigal 12, Behr 11; ASSISTS–Behr 64, Spray 20; SERVES RECEIVED–Spray 11, Paige Thexton 10, Macy Nachtigal 10
Great Bend def. Hays, 25-23, 25-16; STATS–WINNERS–Ellegood 8; SERVES–Spray 14; BLOCKS–Feist 4; DIGS–Spray 9, Macy Nachtigal 8; ASSISTS–Spray 43; SERVES RECEIVED–Davis 12.
