NEWTON — Prior to Saturday’s Class 5A sub-state volleyball tournament, Great Bend High School head coach Kelsey Perry commented that anything can happen when the postseason rolls around.
As if on cue, spirited Great Bend came out like gang-busters during their opening set against Western Athletic Conference foe Liberal. The Lady Panthers won the first set, 26-24, but Liberal captured the final two, 25-19, 25-22, to win the match.
As a result, the Lady Panthers’ season ended with a 17-18 record.
“It was just back-and-forth the whole time,” Perry said. “There were lots of runs. We’d go on a run and they’d go on a run … it was just back-and-forth.”
In the rubber game of the match, GBHS trailed by five points before rallying back to take a short-lived lead.
“It was frustrating,” Perry said. ‘It kept going one point at a time for each side, and we couldn’t get any momentum.”
Playing in her final varsity match, GBHS senior Bonny Boultinghouse had six kills and 24 digs.
“It was very tough for the seniors,” Perry said, also mentioning Liz Swigart and Taylor Fry.  “A senior, obviously, wants to continue her season. Bonny played tremendous and her very best. She’s done that all season.”
Front-line junior standout Brenna Haines had six kills and six blocks, and junior standout Tarynn Stueder had 32 assists and five digs. Junior attacker Kelsie Doll led the team with 10 kills.
“We talked to our girls about the strides they’ve made since from last season,” Perry said. “The dedication in the offseason, and how much we’ve improved.
“We look to be very good next season.”

                                       — Mack McClure

HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Class 5A Sub-State
Tournament

Saturday

At Newton

Newton A: Semifinals
Salina Central def. Maize South, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21
Valley Center def. Salina South, 25-8, 25-10
Newton B: Semifinals
Newton def. Hays, 25-5, 25-13
Liberal def. Great Bend, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22
Newton A: Final
Valley Center def. Salina Central, 25-16, 25-17
Newton B: Final
Newton def. Liberal, 25-10, 25-16
 

GBHS STATISTICS

Bonny Boultinghouse — 6 kills, 1 block, 24 digs
Brenna Haines — 6 kills, 6 blocks, 2 digs
Hannah Hildebrand - 5 kills, 4 blocks, 1 dig
Kaylie Doll — 5 kills, 2 blocks, 13 digs
Kelsie Doll —10 kills, 1 block, 13 blocks
Kylee Spray — 18 digs
Tarynn Stueder — 32 assists, 4 kills, 5 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace