BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
As comebacks go, Great Bend's volleyball team achieved a rare feat rallying from a 2-set deficit to stun 6A Manhattan in Wednesday's 5-set thriller.
No. 10 ranked 6A Manhattan dominated the first two sets 25-15, 25-11 keyed by Weber State commit Bailey Busch that might've convinced Indian fans to chant, "Warm Up the Bus."
Great Bend coach Tina Johnson witnessed perhaps the greatest comeback she's seen in her longtime career.
No. 5 5A ranked Great Bend (3-0) rallied 25-15, 25-23 and 15-11 to surprise the Indians in five sets by mixing up their attack against the Indians' block at the net.
Micah Ellegood's match-clinching block ended the marathon 5-set match between state-ranked teams.
Supersub Baylie Kelly delivered the night's key point with a winner that clinched the fourth set 25-23 after Mikala Minton kept the point alive.
The Panthers raised their level of play with hustling drives and aggressive attacks to outplay a talented Indian team.
"Our girls showed grit tonight. It was a great team effort, one of the most exciting matches I've coached," Johnson said. "It was awesome to see those girls finish that match tonight. They proved that a volleyball match can turn on a dime."
It was likely Minton's finest career match, as she created late-set magic in three consecutive sets.
Minton closed with winners on points 21, 23, 24 and 25 in the momentum-shifting third set. She delivered fourth-set winners for point 22, 23 and 24 to set up Kelly's heroics. Again, set five she nailed down points 11, 12 and 14.
The Panthers were inspired by rising star Jaya Stroup and Washburn commit Kya Behr, who set, spiked and dived for every ball she could find. Meredith Mazouch and Catalina Schenek keyed the defensive saves.
"Stevie Mayers and Micah Ellegood adjusted and figured out Manhattan's blocking," Johnson said. "We moved the ball to different spots and figured things out blocking and hitting. Jaya Stroup and Mikala Minton had their best stretches of the season. Jaya hit a rocket from the back row. Kya Behr did a great job leading us everywhere."
Of course, court queen Alex Mayers overcame the drama of getting two fingernails clipped after getting them bent back. Last year, she lost a tooth diving for a ball before delivering the match's final point.
"Alex is a warrior who's had weird things happen to her," Johnson said.
Johnson appreciated the student crowd that boosted the Panthers' spirit.
"Great Bend has a great student section that shows school spirit," Johnson said. "That was fun to see."
Manhattan relied on a bevy of hard hitters Madison Stanard, Sophia Peabody, Ansley Becket along with talented setter Keeli Tope, who matched Kya Behr point-for-point.
"We started off hitting right into their block. We started nervous and scared, but we turned that around," Johnson said. "Manhattan's a great volleyball team that'll contend for a state berth. Manhattan's Bailey Busch is a 'beast' who can hit from anywhere."
Manhattan (4-5) surprised rival Washburn Rural for the first time in 16 years earlier this season. The Indians play a high-level schedule.
The Panthers compete at Saturday's Riley County Tournament.
