BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend volleyball coach Tina Johnson is a Kansas Volleyball Association coaching and officiating Hall of Fame inductee.
She's won more than 700 high school volleyball matches.
There's only one lifetime goal missing — a state volleyball championship. Johnson came close when 3A Hoisington lost the 2011 state championship match to Hillsboro.
Great Bend's 11th state volleyball tournament appearance rekindled Johnson's love of the game.
"This team loves each other. There is no selfishness," Johnson said. "They are a true testament to what a team should be. They don't care who gets the volleyball."
The No. 5 state-ranked Panthers (34-3) own the best record in 5A, but No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas, No. 2 Lenexa St. James, No. 3 Lansing and No. 4 Maize South are ahead of the Panthers in the final Kansas Volleyball Association ranking.
Defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas, third-place Maize South and fourth-place Lansing return to the 5A state tournament.
Johnson credits the senior trio of all-state setter Kya Behr, Libero Meredith Mazouch and hitter Alex Mayers for their leadership.
"This team has the most 'skill' players I've coached, and that comes from their chemistry," Johnson said. "Kya and our seniors keep us balanced. They know when to 'dial in' and put the gas on. I'm excited for the kids."
The Panthers' sparkplug Kya Behr believes in her team.
"When we click together, we're a dangerous team," Behr said. "We're having so much fun. Our love for each other is something that you can't compare to any other team. Our tough practices make the games easier to play."
Jaya Stroup leads the Panthers' attack.
"I'm thankful that we're playing at a high level," Stroup said. "We love being so connected as a team. Our team is having so much fun. We're excited to go to state."
The Panthers play Blue Valley Southwest, Lansing and Maize South in Friday's pool play at Overland Park.
Behr, Mazouch and Alex Mayers own a 129-24 career record with three state appearances. Great Bend's 2011 team coached by Jackie Engel finished third with a 3-2 record after losing to runner-up Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel and state champion Wichita Carroll.
GREAT BEND ROSTER—1—Meredith Mazouch; 3—Mya Kaiser; 5—Catalina Schenek; 7—Micah Ellegood; 8—Baylie Kelly; 11—Mikala Minton; 14—Jaya Stroup; 17—Kya Behr; 23—Alex Mayers; 24—Cole Fansher; 32—Hallie Rodriguez 34—Stevie Mayers.
5A STATE, OVERLAND PARK, FRIDAY
POOL A—Lansing 30-7 vs Maize South 29-7, 10; Great Bend 34-3 vs. Blue Valley Southwest 16-20, 11; Lansing vs Blue Valley Southwest, 12; Great Bend vs Maize South, 1; Maize South vs Blue Valley Southwest, 2; Great Bend vs. Lansing, 3
POOL B—Wichita Carroll 31-5 vs Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 29-8, 10; St. Thomas Aquinas 32-4 vs Lenexa St. James 28-9, 11; Wichita Carroll vs Lenexa St. James, 12; St. Thomas Aquinas vs Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, 1; Kapaun-Mt. Carmel vs Lenexa St. James, 2; St. Thomas Aquinas vs Wichita Carroll, 3
