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Panthers drop pair of 3-set matches at 5A state volleyball
Kya Behr1
Great Bend Panther Kya Behr (17) prepares a pass.

SALINA — Two-time defending Western Athletic Conference champion Great Bend was the only 5A volleyball team to play three sets in Friday’s state tournament.

However, the hard-luck Panthers were unable to survive the third set, losing to semifinalist Wichita Kapaun Mt Carmel 25-8, 23-25, 25-12 and Andover 25-18, 13-25, 25-21.

Great Bend (35-5) broke the school record for wins in a season. Lenexa St. James downed the Panthers 25-20, 25-17 in a pair of competitive sets.

The Panthers played a superb second set against the Kapaun Crusaders, but hitter Mason Palace had too much firepower. The Crusaders controlled the match with their defense and crisp hitting.

KMC STATS—Kya Behr, 67 assists, 13 digs; Alex Mayers, 18 serves received, 14 serves, 13 digs, 6 winners; Kimmie Hofflinger, 8 digs, 13 serves; Ava Kaiser, 16 serves received, 7 digs;  Mikala Minton, 12 serves; Cassie Ellegood, 8 winners, 8 serves; Kara Feist, 7 winners.

ANDOVER—Behr, 21 assists, 8 winners;  Mayers, 18 serves received, 14 serves, 9 digs; Hofflinger, 17 serves; Kaiser 15 digs;  Minton, 12 serves received; Cassie Ellegood, 9 winners; Feist 7 winners.

ST. JAMES—Behr, 56 assists; Mayers, 18 serves received, 14 serves, 9 digs, 6 winners; Hofflinger, 8 digs, 7 serves; Kaiser, 14 serves received, 7 digs;  Minton, 8 serves; Cassie Ellegood, 7 serves; Feist, 7 winners.

5A STATE SALINA

1ST—St. Thomas Aquinas (34-6) def. Topeka Seaman (41-3), 25-22, 20-25, 25-9; 3RD—Lenexa St. James (32-7) def. Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel (32-10), 25-15, 25-10; SEMIFINALS—Aquinas def. St. James, 29-27, 22-25, 25-20; Seaman def. KMC, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23

POOL A—Aquinas def. BVSW, 25-23, 25-18; Topeka Seaman def. DeSoto, 25-13, 25-18; BVSW def. DeSoto, 25-14, 25-13; Seaman def. Aquinas, 25-19, 25-23; Aquinas def. DeSoto, 25-8, 25-10; Seaman def. BVSW, 25-23, 25-20

POOL B—St. James def. Andover, 25-14, 25-19; KMC def. Great Bend, 25-8, 23-25, 25-12; KMC def. Andover, 26-24, 25-21; St. James def. Great Bend, 25-20, 25-17; St. James def. KMC, 25-16, 25-19; Andover def. Great Bend, 25-18, 13-25, 25-21