DODGE CITY — Wanting to make a statement, the Great Bend High School volleyball team invaded Dodge City’s Demon Fieldhouse on Tuesday night and swept a trio of matches.
The Lady Panthers beat Kiowa County, Hodgeman County and Western Athletic Conference foe Dodge City.
“We were wanting to make a statement in the WAC since we do not usually play DC until the WAC tourney,” GBHS head coach Kelsy Perry said. “This wins leaves us 3-0 in the WAC and we don’t play any more WAC teams until the tourney in late October.
“We were focused from the first serve and jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. Our defense was amazing. The ladies did not let anything hit the floor and they communicated extremely well.
Perry noted it was a team effort, through-and-through.
“Everyone on our team deserves credit for every point because it literally took all of them to score tonight,” Perry said. “It was a great evening for Panther Volleyball. The JV went 3-0, improving to 4-3. The “C” team went 2-0 at home tonight to move to 7-0.”
Great Bend’s varsity is now 5-1 overall.
The Lady Panthers started slow against Kiowa County.
“We were pretty sluggish against Kiowa,” Perry said. “We won the first match, but it was back and forth and no rhythm. The second set we just fell asleep and let them jump out to a good start against us.
“The third match we used our final time out down 15-6. We fell behind 18-8 and then Kylee Spray went on a 10-point serving run, along with Tarynn Stueder getting numerous stuff blocks, the Doll twins, Morgan, Brenna  and Hannah began hitting the ball really well.”
All in all, it was a team effort.
“We had a huge momentum swing and just kept building.,” Perry said. “Kiowa has a very good outside hitter and we got to the rotation where she was backrow and that was huge.
“A 10-point deficit in a varsity match is almost impossible to come back from. It takes great determination to get that done and the girls really played tough.”

                                                                             — Mack McClure