Even though it didn’t translate into a pair of victories, the Great Bend High School Lady Panthers had their moments during match losses to Hillsboro and Newton on Thursday night at Panther Fieldhouse.
After losing to Hillsboro in their first match, the Lady Panthers came out strong against Newton, winning the first set before falling in the final two in a best-of-three match.
“We look at our schedule as total momentum and preparation for our Class 5A sub-state (set for Oct. 20),” GBHS head coach Kelsey Perry said. “We play ranked teams every week and that really helps us, I feel a benefit for us, going into sub-state.
“Newton will be in our sub-state and it is very possible we will play them again. The girls know they can play with anybody. We just play a tough schedule and our kids are playing that schedule and hanging with every single team.”
On Senior Night, where Bonny Boultinghouse, Taylor Fry and Liz Swigart were making their final home appearances, the Lady Panthers lost to Hillsboro, the No. 1-ranked team in 3A, 25-14 and 25-11.
Against Newton, the Lady Panthers won the first set, 25-23, before falling to the Lady Railers, 25-16 and 25-14.
“We definitely have the ability,” Perry said, “and I think we showed that tonight. We’ve got to get Newton when it’s really going to count for us and if we we see them again, that’s going to be our goal.”
Junior libero Kylee Spray broke the GBHS single-season digs record of 289, set by Katelyn Henning during the 2011 season. Spray currently has 309 with four regular-season games left.
Junior setter Tarynn Stueder now owns the single-season assists record with 638, breaking Andee Hartig’s record of 579, set in 2000.
The Lady Panthers (15-13 overall) travel to Smith Center on Tuesday for a triangular with the host school and Phillipsburg.

PREP VOLLEYBALL
Non-Conference

Thursday

At Great Bend
Panther Fieldhouse

Hillsboro 2, Great Bend 0
(25-14, 25-11)
GBHS statistics
Bonny Boultinghouse — 2 kills, 6 digs
Brenna Haines —  4 kills, 2 blocks
Hannah Hildebrand — 1 kill
Kaylie Doll — 4 kills, 2 digs
Kelsie Doll — 3 kills, 8 digs
Kylee Spray — 6 digs
Tarynn Stueder — 1 kill, 13 assists

Newton 2, Great Bend 1
(23-25, 25-16, 25-14)
GBHS stats
Bonny Boultinghouse — 1 ace, 7 kills, 2 blocks, 13 digs
Brenna Haines — 4 kills, 2 blocks, 4 digs, 1 ace
Hannah Hildebrand — 6 kills, 4 blocks
Kaylie Doll — 2 kills, 9 digs
Kelsie Doll — 7 kills, 1 block, 8 digs
Kylee Spray — 2 kills, 12 digs
Tarynn Stueder — 1 kill, 2 aces, 6 digs