BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
The red-hot Great Bend Panthers (27-9) will ride a 17-match winning streak to the 5A state volleyball tournament. The Panthers edged past a spirited Andover Central team 25-19, 25-19 for a 5A state berth Saturday.
A rowdy student crowd delivered a perfect home-court advantage.
"Our crowd and student section create the energy for us," Duvall said. "Our crowd hypes us up. It's a massive home-court advantage for us. The girls put on a show for them with 100% effort."
The Panthers exhibited their balanced quick-hitting offense sparked by Mikala Minton and Micah Ellegood and a stout defense led by Ava Kaiser, Alex Mayers, Minton and Kya Behr.
As usual, all-state setter Behr was everywhere, playing offense, defense while finding a way to sprinkle in serves and assists. Andover Central's trio of Sydney Mayginnes, Emmersyn Kaberline and Maddie Jacobs provided a solid challenge.
Minton keyed an early offensive surge. The Panthers' first-set lead was sliced to 21-18, but Stevie Mayers delivered back-to-back winners along with a double block by Behr.
Behr jump started set 2 with strong serving. The Jaguars hung within 15-14 when Alex Mayers hit back-to-back aces for a 19-14 edge. Ellegood and Stevie Mayers hit late-game winners. The Jaguars bowed out on a net violation which ignited a delayed celebration.
"We minimized our errors against Andover Central and got in our groove," Duvall said. "We played better against Andover Central. I was most pleased with our defense. We have great depth in our back row. We competed defensively."
The Panthers edged past Valley Center 25-20, 25-20 in the semifinals.
The Panthers feature Maize South (35-4), Blue Valley Southwest (30-4) and Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel (27-10) in pool play Friday at Salina. Eight top-seeded 5A teams qualified for the state tournament.
"Our tougher competition has prepared to challenge the better teams," Duvall said. "The eight teams seeded to win are the top eight teams. We have a tough draw, but we're prepared mentally for what we'll see. Our goal is to compete and get to day two and give teams a 'run for their money.' We'll have to play our best to reach the second day. Blue Valley Southwest has a massive front row. Maize South is a well-rounded team."
SALINA — Great Bend volleyball coach Shelly Duvall knew the level of 5A state competition.
Class 5A is loaded featuring 9-time state champions Lenexa St. James and St. Thomas Aquinas and 8-time state champion Wichita Carroll and 1-time champion Lansing.
High-profile recruits are Maize South's Bella Cook (Iowa State), Autumn Popp (Wichita State) and Sage Illian (nationally ranked beach volleyball); Lansing's Avery Sands (Missouri State); Wichita Carroll's Brae Martin (Wichita State) and Blue Valley Southwest's Taylor Stanley (University of Kansas).
Great Bend qualified for state volleyball for the fourth time under coach Duvall and for the 11th time in school history.
GB STATS, ANDOVER CENTRAL—Behr, 13 assists, 11 digs, 10 serves (4 aces); Minton, 13 digs, 7 winners, 6 serves received; Kaiser, 11 serves received, 10 digs, 7 serves; Alex Mayers, 10 serves received, 7 serves, 3 winners; Stevie Mayers, 3 blocks; Ellegood, 3 winners; Kimmy Hofflinger, 15 serves.
GB STATS, VALLEY CENTER—Behr, 19 assists, 13 digs, 14 serves, 2 blocks; Minton, 9 serves received; 7 winners; Kaiser, 11 serves received, 9 dig; Alex Mayers, 11 serves received, 6 digs; Ellegood, 5 winners; Kimmy Hofflinger, 10 serves.
GREAT BEND 5A—FINAL—Great Bend def. Andover Central, 25-19; 25-19; Great Bend def. Valley Center, 25-20, 25-20; Andover Central def. Emporia, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20
SALINA 5A POOL A—Wichita Carroll 37-1, St. Thomas Aquinas 28-5, Lansing 29-9, Lenexa St. James 26-10; Aquinas vs. Lansing, 10 a.m.; Carroll vs. St. James; Aquinas vs. St. James Carroll vs. Lansing; St. James vs. Lansing; Carroll vs. Aquinas
SALINA 5A POOL B—Maize South 35-4, Blue Valley Southwest 30-4, Great Bend 27-9, Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel 27-10; BVSW vs. Great Bend, 10 a.m.; Maize South vs. Kapaun; BVSW vs. Kapaun; Maize South vs Great Bend; Great Bend vs. Kapaun; Maize South vs. BVSW
GREAT BEND STATE VOLLEYBALL—Shelly Duvall (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025); Kelsey Perry (2013); Kristen Baker (2007); Jackie Engle (2001, 2002); Mike Minton (1998, 2000); Deb Becker (1996).
GREAT BEND (27-9)
CREDIT KSHSAA COVERED
Key Players: Kya Behr, jr., S; Mikala Minton, so., OH; Ava Kaiser, sr., L; Alex Mayers, jr., OH; Stevie Mayers, fr., MB; Micah Ellegood, so., MB.
Panthers making second straight trip 10th overall appearance, placed third in 2001. … Panthers won third straight Western Athletic Conference title. … Panthers went 0-4 at Washburn Rural Invitational, with three of losses coming to state qualifiers Manhattan (6A), Washburn Rural (6A) and St. James Academy (5A). … Panthers have won 18 straight matches since that tourney in late September. … Seven of nine losses have come to state-qualifying teams, including 4A No. 2 seed Clay Center twice… Duvall is averaging 24 wins per season in her 10 years as Panther head coach. … Behr holds school record for assists in a season (829) and career (2,163), going over 2,000 this season with 758 so far. … She’s been a first-team all-league pick her first two seasons and is a Washburn University commit. … Minton leads team in winners with 254 and also has 286 digs as a six-rotation player along with Behr. … Alex Mayers has 219 winners and Stevie Mayers (146), Ellegood (138) and Behr (132) all have more than 130 winners. … Behr leads team in aces with 46. … Ellegood has 57 blocks and Stevie Mayers has 40 as an impact freshman. … Kaiser leads team with 307 digs.
