HILLSBORO — Great Bend's No. 7 ranked 5A Panthers kept red hot with a sweep of Hillsboro 25-20, 25-16 and Emporia 25-18, 24-26, 25-21 in a typical 3-set showdown. Hillsboro downed Emporia 22-25, 25-23, 25-22.

Great Bend's senior trio of Kya Behr, Meredith Mazouch and Alex Mayers continue to rewrite the school record book with a 4-year record of 121-24.

The Panthers own records of 31-5, 35-5 28-11 and 27-3 while winning the WAC three consecutive years under prior head coach Shelly Duvall. Great Bend finished 1-2 at 5A state last year and 0-3 at 5A state in 2024. Andover edged the Panthers 19-25, 25-16, 25-23 to prevent a state trip in 2023.

Great Bend (27-3, 9-0 WAC) has built a 2-game lead over Garden City (17-6, 7-2 WAC) in the Western Athletic Conference and has clinched a 5A homecourt substate tournament.

Great Bend plays Garden City, Dodge City and Liberal Oct. 13.