By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

DODGE CITY — Great Bend’s volleyball team focused well and swept Spearville 25-10, 25-13, state-ranked Kiowa County 25-20, 25-21 and WAC rival Dodge City 25-14, 25-19 Tuesday. The Panthers (4-1) compete at Ellinwood Monday.
“We knew we needed to focus on our aggressive serving and blocking and the team definitely got those two things done,” said Great Bend coach Kelsey Perry. “We hit the ball very well.
“Seeing all of their strengths starting to come together is great,” she said. “We know that we will be tested, but getting the sweep tonight was necessary for our team’s mentality and growth. They played great all night.”
Class 2A state-ranked Kiowa County pushed the Panthers in a 25-20, 25-21 match.
“Having 25 kills against Kiowa County and eight stuff blocks put us on top,” she said.
Kiowa County led in the second set before the Panthers rallied.
“To be able to come back, against a very good team was big,” she said. “Our overall focus was to jump out strong and to focus on the first five points. For the most part we did that. We are starting to find rotations that are clicking.”
Perry said middle blocker Kate Warren enjoyed three great matches.
“Kate hit well, blocked well, served well, and played the back row well,” Perry said.
Perry said libero Baylee Beck bailed the Panthers out in the back row and saved several defensive plays.
Perry’s other comments:
• “Junior OH Camryn Dunekack has been consistent, getting big kills, and has stepped up her defensive game.”
• “Junior MB Trista Wilt played really well against Kiowa County. She got big blocks in critical situations.”
• “Junior hitter Sidney Meitner and freshmen hitter Olivia Mull give us a lot of options. They are both aggressive servers and can run any offensive system. To have that luxury is very beneficial.”
• “Freshmen setters Jenna Mauler and Alyssa Herter connected with the hitters. Mauler is capable of serving any location. Junior right side Baleigh Fry can play both the front row and back row.”
• “Senior defensive specialist Kendal Sell reads the ball off the hitters hands extremely well.”
The JV team (4-1) won three matches. Perry said the group works hard and wins the hustle plays. The group features a mix of freshmen, sophomores and juniors that are starting to gel.
“They improve every day and that is paying off,” she said.
The junior varsity plays at Scott City Saturday.
STATS
GB def. Spearville, 25-10, 25-13 — Baylee Beck assist, 4 digs; Camryn Dunekack 2 aces, 10 digs, 3 kills, 2 stuff blocks; Jenna Mauler 7 Assists, 4 aces, 7 digs, 1 kill; Olivia Mull 3 Kills, block; Kendal Sell, dig; Alyssa Herter 4 assists; Kate Warren 2 aces, 5 kills; Baleigh Fry 2 digs; Sidney Meitner 2 blocks, stuff block
GB def. No. 7 2A Kiowa County, 25-20, 25-21 — Beck 2 assists, ace, 14 digs, kill; Dunekack 8 digs, 7 kills; Mauler 14 assists, ace, 2 kills, 1 stuff block, 9 digs; Meitner 2 digs, 6 kills, 1 stuff block, assist; Herter 5 assists, 2 digs; Mull 2 aces, 3 digs, 3 kills, 1 stuff block; Sell dig; Warren 1 dig, 4 kills, 2 stuff blocks; Trista Wilt 2 kills, 3 stuff blocks
GB def. Dodge City, 25-14, 25-19 — Beck 10 digs; Dunekack 7 digs, 8 kills, 1 stuff block; Mauler 12 assists, 2 digs, 3 kills; Sell 1 assist, 3 digs; Herter 7 assists, 3 digs; Warren 2 aces, 2 digs, 5 Kills, block, stuff block; Fry dig; Meitner dig; Mull 2 digs, 2 kills; Wilt kill