BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

A record-breaking Great Bend volleyball team was a couple points away from achieving their dream in a classic championship match.

Tears were destined when Great Bend and Andover High battled to a 24-23 score in the third and decisive set for a berth at the 5A state volleyball tournament.

A point either way would determine a 5A state qualifier.

Instead of tears of joy, the Panthers exhibited tears of anguish. The Trojans benefited from a match-ending officiating call when Denver Ringo's potential game-tying spike was ruled not touching Andover's Camille Avila Luna or Aliyah Green. 

"The other team touched the ball. You could see the trajectory of the ball change," said Great Bend coach Shelly Duvall. "It's hard to explain to your kids when you fight back, and a call is missed at the end that determines a state berth."

Great Bend battled for every point from start-to-finish keyed by brilliant all-court play by freshman Kya Behr. Left-hander Feist, Sadie Spray and Libero Macy Nachtigal delivered numerous clutch plays.  

"We knew Andover would be the highest level team we've played," Duvall said. "The girls gave me everything they could tonight. It was little errors on our part that got us."

Behr's precise setting sparked Spray and Feist for a fast start. Cassie Ellegood closed out a 25-19 first set with two winners.

Andover sparkplug Green, a 6-1 transfer from Hutchinson, swung the momentum in set 2 with a trio of winners. The Trojans outscored the Panthers 17-6 down the stretch for  25-16 second set win.  Gabrielle Reynolds closed out the set with a trio of winners.

The third set swung back and forth with 13 ties and five lead changes. Feist led the way with Ringo, Behr and Spray delivering winners for a 19-18 lead. Andover's Green delivered key winners with Reynolds and Luna adding winners. A serve by Alyssa Evans hit the net and dropped for a 23-21 lead and Green's winner made it 24-21.. After Nachtigal and Feist hit winners, the Trojans earned the third of three match points.  

"Our team chemistry helped them dig out of holes," Duvall said. "They worked well together athletically. They love and fight for each other. Our intensity and focus helped us get back into a high-level match." 

Western Athletic Conference champion Great Bend defeated Salina Central, 25-16, 25-21 in the 5A volleyball semifinals. Andover swept Goddard Eisenhower and Campus, two teams the Panthers lost matches against.

Spray delivered a trio of winners against the Mustangs followed by back-to-back winners by Feist. Makenzie Premer and Spray closed out the first set with winners.

The Mustangs led 18-16 in the second set when sparkplug Ellegood got rolling with a rim-rattling winner to swing the momentum. Ellegood added three more winners down the stretch. Behr and Denver Ringo sprinkled in winners. The Panthers outscored the Mustangs 9-3 for a 25-21 second-set victory. 

Great Bend swept its first Western Athletic Conference volleyball championship under Duvall for the school’s sixth title and first WAC championship in 20 years.

2A STERLING CHAMPIONSHIP—Inman (35-4) def. Central Prairie League champion Ellinwood (30-8), 25-27, 25-17, 25-17 in the championship match. 

1A KINSLEY DIV. 1 CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John (30-8) advanced to the finals before losing a 3-set showdown to Spearville (29-8), 25-17, 17-25, 25-20.

1A TESCOTT DIV. 2 CHAMPIONSHIP—Underdog Pawnee Heights (19-17) pushed No. 1 seed Beloit St. John’s (34-3) to three sets in a hard-fought 25-8, 23-25, 25-16 setback.

PANTHER STATS—Cassie Ellegood (217 winners, 64 blocks); Lauryn Davis (237 serves received, 170 digs); Macy Nachtigal (340 digs, 318 serves received); Denver Ringo (78 winners); Paige Thexton (265 serves received, 223 digs); Sadie Spray (242 digs, 218 assists, 187 serves received, 125 winners, 64 blocks); Kara Feist (205 winners, 78 blocks); Kya Behr (555 assists, 275 digs, 147 winners, 106 serves received, 30 blocks); Emilee Hall (57 winners); Makenzie Premer (135 winners).

Ava Kaiser and Alex Mayers moved up for postseason play.

"This is the best well-balanced team I've coached," Duvall said. "They've been a blessing to coach."

HOISINGTON – Hoisington’s volleyball team (27-10, 4-5 CKL) plays Larned in Saturday’s opening 3A substate match.

Jordyn Boxberger (354 serves, 288 serves received, 238 digs, 226 winners) is the Cardinals’ most versatile player. Setters Ellie Crawford (481 assists, 275 serves, 123 digs, 42 blocks) and Shellamae Farmer (256 assists) spark the offense.

CARDINAL STATS—Sofia Simic (281 winners, 277 serves, 224 serves received, 154 digs); Kylee Hahn (241 serves, 137 winners, 76 blocks); Mallory Mooney (88 winners, 53 blocks); Gabby Reif (331 serves received, 291 digs, 238 serves); Kelsi maier (182 serves); Mollie Steiner (108 serves received).  

ELLINWOOD – Ellinwood has swept seven consecutive Central Prairie League volleyball championships.

ELLINWOOD STATS—Kyndal Moore (349 assists, 277 serves, 246 winners, 130 digs, 47 blocks); Alyvia Batchman (373 assists, 275 serves, 144 digs, 128 winners); Regan Widener (239 serves, 215 winners, 39 blocks); Kennedy Behnke (135 serves received, 66 winners); Kadie Bailey (313 serves, 294 serves received, 168 digs, 122 winners, 36 blocks); Bennett Jacobs (465 serves received, 273 serves, 270 digs); Caylee Rowan (281 serves received, 135 digs); Reese Stickney (334 serves, 70 winners)

VOLLEYBALL SUBSTATES OCT. 21

5A WEST

Andover Central def. Arkansas City 25-10, 25-19; Wichita Carroll def. Emporia, 25-22, 25-18; CHAMPIONSHIP—Andover Central def. Wichita Carroll, 25-21, 25-22

Maize South def. Salina South, 25-17, 25-16; Valley Center def. Topeka West, 25-21, 25-23; CHAMPIONSHIP—Maize South def. Valley Center, 25-14, 25-19

Great Bend def. Salina Central, 25-16, 25-21; Andover High def. Hays High, 25-12, 25-20; CHAMPIONSHIP—Andover High def. Great Bend, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23

Topeka Seaman def. Goddard Eisenhower, 25-21, 25-21; Newton def. Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, 25-19, 16-25, 32-30; CHAMPIONSHIP—Topeka Seaman def. Newton, 25-16, 25-15

NO KSHSAA POSTSEASON—17 Hutchinson 9-23; 18 Goddard 4-29

3A HOISINGTON—Hoisington def. Larned, 25-15, 25-11; Goodland def. Colby, 27-25, 25-19; Lakin def. SW Heights, 25-15, 25-21; Holcomb def. Cimarron, 25-22, 25-12; Goodland def. Hoisington, 25-19, 25-19; Holcomb def. Lakin, 18-25, 25-21, 25-23; CHAMPIONSHIP—Goodland def. Holcomb, 25-18, 25-16

3A HAVEN—Cheney def. Haven, 26-24, 25-9; Kingman def. Douglass, 25-23, 25-21; Wichita Collegiate def. Bluestem, 25-8, 25-10; Wichita Trinity def. Chaparral, 25-10, 25-19; Cheney def. Kingman, 25-8, 25-10; Wichita Trinity def. Wichita Collegiate, 25-22, 25-17; CHAMPIONSHIP—Cheney def. Wichita Trinity, 25-21, 25-21

3A HALSTEAD—Halstead def. Council Grove, 25-5, 25-7; Hesston def. Ellsworth, 25-12, 25-19; Smoky Valley def. Lyons, 25-10, 25-13; SE Saline def. Nickerson, 25-23, 25-19; Halstead def. Hesston, 29-27, 25-21; Smoky Valley def. SE Saline, 25-23, 25-21; CHAMPIONSHIP—Smoky Valley def. Halstead, 25-11, 25-19

2A STERLING—Inman def. Hutchinson Trinity, 25-16, 25-20; Garden Plain def.  Medicine Lodge, 25-21, 25-15; Ellinwood def. Sterling, 26-24, 25-13; Ell-Saline def. Salina Sacred Heart, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23; Inman def. Garden Plain, 25-17, 25-18; Ellinwood def. Ell-Saline, 25-20, 25-20; CHAMPIONSHIP—Inman def. Ellinwood, 25-27, 25-17, 25-17

2A HILLSBORO—Sedgwick def. Remington, 25-11, 25-10; Chase County def. Marion, 19-25, 25-19, 25-22; Hillsboro def. Berean, 25-10, 25-7; Herington def. Moundridge, 25-10, 13-25, 25-14; Sedgwick def. Chase County, 25-7, 25-10; Hillsboro def. Herington, 25-8, 25-15; CHAMPIONSHIP—Hillsboro def. Sedgwick, 25-16, 25-12

1A DIV. 1 KINSLEY—Quinter def. Macksville, 25-18, 25-17; Spearville def. Hodgeman County, 25-9, 25-11; Ness City def. Kinsley, 25-14, 25-14; St. John def. Quinter, 25-15, 25-15; Spearville def. Ness City, 25-23; 25-18; CHAMPIONSHIP—Spearville def. St. John, 25-17, 17-25, 25-20

1A DIV. 1 LITTLE RIVER—Canton-Galva def. La Crosse, 25-17, 25-13; Sylvan-Lucas def. Fairfield 25-10, 25-20; Goessel def. Central Plains, 25-12, 25-12; Little River def. Canton-Galva, 25-13, 25-13; Goessel def. Sylvan-Lucas, 25-15, 25-16; CHAMPIONSHIP—Little River def. Goessel, 25-22, 25-11

1A DIV. 2 ARGONIA—Caldwell def. South Haven, 30-28, 25-15; Attica def. Stafford, 25-8, 25-13; Cunningham def. South Barber, 25-20, 25-20; Argonia def. Caldwell, 25-10, 25-17; Attica def. Cunningham, 25-14, 25-17; CHAMPIONSHIP—Argonia def. Attica, 25-23, 25-15

1A DIV. 2 TESCOTT—Otis-Bison def. Tescott, 25-14, 25-8; Victoria def. Chase 25-7, 25-5; Pawnee Heights def. Natoma, 25-20, 25-20; Beloit St. John’s def. Otis-Bison, 25-20, 25-20; Pawnee Heights def. Victoria, 25-22, 7-25, 25-22; CHAMPIONSHIP—Beloit St. John’s def. Pawnee Heights, 25-8, 23-25, 25-16 

CENTRAL KANSAS LEAGUE

Hillsboro 9–0 34–5

Halstead 8–1 33–7

Hesston 7–2 22–15

Smoky Valley 6–3 29–11

Nickerson 5–4 19–19

Hoisington 4-5 28-11

Pratt 3–6 22–14

Lyons 2–7 11–24

Haven 1–8 5–31

Larned 0–9 4–29

WESTERN ATHLETIC

Great Bend 30-4

Garden City 23-13

Hays High 21-13

Dodge City 9-24

Liberal 8-21

CENTRAL PRAIRIE LEAGUE

Ellinwood 8–0 30–8

St. John 7–1 30–8

Ness City 6–2 28–10

Victoria 5–3 21–14

Otis-Bison 5–3 17–19

Central Plains 3–5 12–22

La Crosse 2–6 15–17

Macksville 1–7 18–17

Kinsley 0–8 11–23