Great Bend Post Sports
Three Barton County high school volleyball teams advanced to their respective state tournaments. Two advanced to the championship round on Saturday. Great Bend finished at 1-2 in Salina to end its season. Hoisington overcame a rough start to advance to the 3A semifinals in Hutchinson. Ellinwood begins Class 2A play in Dodge City on Friday.
As the No. 6 seed at the Class 5A tournament in Salina, Great Bend had its work cut out. The path grew even more difficult after a round-one 25-11, 25-10 loss to No. 3 Blue Valley Southwest. That loss snapped an 18-match win streak for the Panthers.
Great Bend answered with a 13-25, 26-24, 25-20 upset against No. 2 Maize South to stay alive. Needing a win to secure a spot in Saturday's semifinal, the Panthers took set one against No. 7 Kapaun 29-27, but dropped the final two sets 25-18, 25-21.
Blue Valley Southwest finished the pool at 3-0, while Great Bend, Kapaun, and Maize South each finished at 1-2. With the top two teams advancing to Saturday, the tie-break came down to sets lost. Maize South won that battle with four compared to five each for Great Bend and Kapaun.
As the No. 3 seed in Hutchinson, Hoisington suffered an early blow with a 20-25, 25-17, 25-20 loss to No. 6 Holton. That meant the Cardinals would likely need a win against No. 2 Riverton in the final match to advance.
Hoisington had no trouble getting by No. 7 Osage City 25-19, 25-16 in the third match of the day. Riverton also fell to Holton and defeated Osage City, making the final match of the day an elimination match. Hoisington stayed alive in a 26-24, 25-23 thriller.
In the other pool, Ellsworth opened with a 3-set loss to Wichita Trinity before falling to Silver Lake and Hesston in straight sets to end its season.
The Lady Cards advance to Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal against No. 1 seed Silver Lake. Holton and Wichita Trinity play in the other 9 a.m. semifinal. Consolation and championship matches begin approximately 25 minutes after the final 9 a.m. match has concluded.
Little River's quest for a 4-peat continues in Class 1A, Div. I. The Redskins entered state in Dodge City with just two losses on the season, both to unbeaten Ellinwood. Little River went 3-0 Friday with straight-set wins against Centralia, Goessel, and Frankfort. The Redskins take on Quinter in Saturday's 9 a.m. semifinal match. South Gray and Centralia will play in the other semifinal.