By Mike Courson
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend High School girls showed off their athleticism at the state track meet last May, earning points all over the track and in the field for a second-place finish in Class 5A. Now, GBHS volleyball coach Shelly Duvall is hoping many of those same athletes can lead the team beyond last year’s 18-16 finish.
The Lady Panthers lost just three seniors in Brooke McReynolds, Taryn Warren, and Alayna Irwin. McReynolds was the only player in the trio to play in all 80 sets, finishing second on the squad with 170 kills and third on the team with 37 blocks.
“With only losing three seniors, we have a pretty high expectation set for this season,” Duvall said. “It's our year to take (the Western Athletic Conference title). The girls worked extremely hard over the summer, and we will be starting our first week of practice with some intense mental training as well as physical.”
Duvall gets back three seniors in Valarie Luna, Rylie Duvall, and Kyndall Blessing. Luna was already a defensive force last season with 104 blocks – more than twice as many as anyone else on the team. The state-medalist high jumper also finished fourth on the team with 127 kills in 2021.
“Valarie will be so much fun to watch,” Duvall said. “She stands at only 5-7 but has a 30-inch vertical. She is a big presence at the net. We actually have size this season compared to those in the past.”
Rylie Duvall played in all 80 sets as a junior, finishing third on the team with 157 kills. Blessing added another 80 kills in 64 sets. Blessing was also a service specialist with 20 aces, and her 137 digs ranked third on last year’s defense.
Junior Kenzie Premer is back after pacing last year’s offense with 182 kills, and her 49 blocks were second only to Luna. Junior Macy Nachtigal did a little of everything at libero, leading the team with 377 digs, 505 serve receives, and 24 aces.
A healthy junior class also includes Sadie Spray, Lauryn Davis and Paige Thexton. Spray and Davis set up the hitters last season with 341 and 297 assists, respectively. The pair also combined for more than 200 digs. Thexton, back as a defensive specialist, finished with 185 digs in 2021.
“Rylie and Kenzie have some power in their swings, along with Kyndall Blessing,” said Coach Duvall. “Sadie and Lauryn will run the court with setting. Sadie is very quick to the ball and runs the floor. Lauryn will see both time as a setter and as a defensive specialist along with Paige.”
The Lady Panthers also welcome in some youth. Sophomore Kara Feist did some big things on the track last spring as a freshman. She will be joined by sophomore Cassie Ellegood and freshman Denver Ringo.
“Kara, Cassie and Denver all provide height at the net and the ability to score when in tight situations,” Coach Duvall said. “We expect big things from our young girls.”
Of Great Bend’s 16 losses last season, five came against teams that went on to play at state, including two against Hutchinson (6A), and individual losses to Smith Center and Hillsboro, the top-two teams in Class 2A. Three more losses came against ranked teams from Eisenhower (5A), Clay Center (4A), and Goodland (3A).
Coach Duvall said her squad has put in the work during the offseason and, given the level of talent from experienced players all the way down to the newcomers, it should pay dividends in 2022.
“Several girls attended multiple camps and took lessons throughout the summer,” she said. “I would say from the freshmen all the way up to the seniors, this might be the most well-rounded, athletic group of girls I have ever coached. They are all multi-sport athletes that live in the gym. Adding the mental training will be a game changer for the team. We are including our entire program with this. I feel like it's extremely important to incorporate from the beginning.”
The Lady Panthers open the season in Garden City on Sept. 1, and play their first home matches against Hutchinson and Goddard on Sept. 22. This year’s Great Bend Invitational is Saturday, Oct. 1.