BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's volleyball learned hard-fought lessons at the Topeka Washburn tournament Sept. 27.
The Panthers (23-9) dropped matches to state-ranked Lenexa St. James, Blue Valley, Washburn Rural and Manhattan, highlighted by a pair of hard-fought 3-set losses.
Since that spanking, the Panthers have reeled off 12 consecutive victories that's boosted them from 13th-best West 5A record to fifth best.
"That helped us turn things around," said Great Bend volleyball coach Shelly Duvall. "We saw that fast tempo the teams played and told ourselves, 'we can do that.' We learned that's the fast pace and intensity we need."
The Panthers dusted off Phillipsburg, 25-9, 25-9 Thursday at home. They proved they've learned their lessons with a comeback 25-23, 25-21 victory over Smith Center. The Panthers trailed 21-19 in both sets before rallying 6-2 and 6-0 with set-ending points.
In set one, Mikalya Minton delivered two key winners with Alex Mayers, Stevie Mayers, Micah Ellegood and Katherine Mazouch chipping in. Minton delivered the match-deciding points with two aces and four successful service points. Stevie Mayers swung the momentum with back-to-back winners for a 21-21 tie.
All-state junior setter Kya Behr continues to deliver perfect set-ups, passing 2,000 career assists.
Duvall is impressed with how quickly the Panthers picked up their level of play.
"It makes your defense ready to play," she said. "You've got to fire back at the other team and show that we can play that way too."
Libero Ava Kaiser, Alex Mayers and Minton are the defensive sparkplugs with Kimmy Hofflinger and Meredith Mazouch backing them up.
"What's helped us is we're pretty solid all over the court, and we've got multiple options across the net," she said. "Any one of the girls can put a play away."
Statistical leaders are Alex Mayers (268 serves, 241 serves received, 215 digs, 193 winners); Behr (627 assists, 308 serves, 228 digs, 110 winners); Ava Kaiser (345 serves received, 261 serves, 247 digs); Minton (229 digs, 228 serves received, 213 winners); Hofflinger (277 serves, 125 digs, 111 serves received; Stevie Mayers (124 winners, 31 blocks); and Micah Ellegood (115 winners, 52 blocks).
As always, the first hit or bump is the key when the momentum swings the wrong way.
"Your goal is to get a sideout when the other team is serving," she said. "You're fine when you don't let the other team get on a run."
A sweep of Saturday's Western Athletic Conference tournament will clinch the fourth seed and a home substate site.
PROJECTED 5A POSTSEASON
5A WICHITA—1—Wichita Carroll 33-1 vs. 16—Newton 9-23; 8—Salina Central 19-11 vs. 9—Hutchinson 22-13
5A MAIZE—2—Maize South 32-3 vs. 15—Goddard 11-17; 7—Goddard Eisenhower 19-10 vs. 10—Andover 16-10
5A WICHITA—3—Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel 25-10 vs. 14—Topeka West 13-14; 6—Hays High 20-9 vs. 11—Salina South 20-14
5A ANDOVER—4—Andover Central 24-10 vs. 13—Valley Center 16-15; 5—Great Bend 23-9 vs. 12—Emporia 16-12
LITTLE RIVER DUAL—Little River def. St. John, 25-15, 25-12, 25-14
OTIS TRIANGULAR—Ellinwood def. Victoria, 25-13, 25-9; Ellinwood def. Otis-Bison, 25-10, 25-7; Victoria def. Otis-Bison, 27-25; 25-15
ST. JOHN TRIANGULAR—St. John def. La Crosse, 25-18, 25-12; St. John def. Chase, 25-2, 25-7; La Crosse def. Chase
INGALLS TRIANGULAR—Hodgeman County def. Pawnee Heights, 25-19, 25-22; Ingalls def. Pawnee Heights, 25-10, 25-11; Ingalls def. Hodgeman County, 25-21, 25-10
