Great Bend's volleyball team captured its home invitational by sweeping five matches Saturday against Hutchinson High, Salina Central, Phillipsburg, Hays High and St. John. The Panthers (11-11) were pushed to three sets just one time. It marked the second year in a row Great Bend won its own invitational.
Great Bend’s Kate Warren was named Most Valuable Player. Panther Baylee Beck was named Top Defender in the tournament.
Earning All-Tournament honors were Great Bend’s Camryn Dunekack, Hutchinson’s Morgan Armbrust and Micah Tomac, Hays’ Tasiah Nunnery and Savannah Schneider, Salina Central’s Delenay Nash and Bayleigh Pettyt, St. John’s Olivia Falk and Tatum Bartels of Phillipsburg.
Baylee Beck had 56 digs. Camryn Dunekack had 51 digs and 35 kills. Alyssa Herter had 47 assists. Jenna Mauler had 46 assists and 30 digs. Kate Warren had 44 kills.
"We really needed these wins going into October," said Great Bend coach Kelsey Perry. "To go 5-0 on the day was big for us mentally. We overcame some issues we have been having with coverage and blocking which was a big factor in our matches today. All the ladies stepped up and made great plays when we needed them."
The Panthers won with a team effort.
"To only go three sets one time helped us out. Getting them done in two kept us fresh for the next match. Momentum is something we have struggled with and to see the team take that and run with it was huge"
Great Bend plays at Goddard Eisenhower Tuesday and Hillsboro and Emporia Thursday.
"We see a lot of ranked teams this week so we need to keep this streak going," Perry said.
GREAT BEND INVITATIONAL
1st place—Great Bend 5-0; Great Bend def. Hutchinson, 25-19, 27-25; Great Bend def. Salina Central, 28-26, 28-26; Great Bend def. Phillipsburg, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18; Great Bend def. Hays High, 25-20, 25-18; Great Bend def. St. John, 25-17, 25-17
2nd place—Hutchinson 4-1; Hutchinson def. Salina Central, 28-26, 21-25, 25-23; Hutchinson def. Phillipsburg, 23-25, 25-17, 25-19; Hutchinson def. Hays High, 25-16, 15-25, 25-22; Hutchinson def. St. John, 25-16, 25-21
3rd place—Salina Central 3-2; Salina Central def. Phillipsburg, 25-14, 15-25, 25-18; Salina Central def. Hays High, 19-25, 25-20, 25-14; Salina Central def. St. John, 25-15, 18-25, 25-13
4th place—Phillipsburg 2-3; Phillipsburg def. Hays High, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16; Phillipsburg def. St. John, 25-19, 25-14
5th place—Hays High 1-4; Hays def. St. John, 25-27, 25-19, 25-14
6th place—St. John 0-5
STATS
Baylee Beck - 5 aces, 56 digs, Camryn Dunekack - 8 aces, 51 digs, 35 kills, 9 blocks, 3 stuff blocks; Baleigh Fry - 2 digs; Alyssa Herter - 10 digs, 47 assists, 2 kills, 1 block; Jenna Mauler-6 aces, 30 digs, 46 assists, 4 kills, 1 block, 2 stuff blocks; Sidney Meitner - 3 digs, 1 assist, 7 kills, 2 blocks, 2 solo blocks; Olivia Mull-3 aces, 4 digs, 6 kills, 1 block, 1 stuff block; Kendal Sell - 1 ace, 34 digs; Kate Warren - 7 aces, 9 digs, 44 kills, 16 blocks, 5 stuff blocks' Trista Wilt - 3 digs, 13 kills, 7 blocks, 2 stuff blocks
