By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel Bluebirds came up with their third championship of the season Saturday, vanquishing a bevy of non-league foes to win the Canton-Galva tournament.

Pool play went smoothly as the Bluebirds defeated Little River, 25-10 and 25-7, Wichita Home School Warriors, 25-4 and 25-12, and Sunrise Christian Academy, 25-13 and 25-12.

Then the Bluebirds waited. It took three hours for the other pool to finish play.

Solomon emerged as Goessel’s semifinal opponent, and the Bluebirds began with several passing errors, creating a 0-4 deficit. However, Goessel roared back behind the serving of Brittney Hiebert, scoring nine consecutive points. With Savannah Wuest serving up three aces, the Bluebirds put together a 7-0 streak to lead 19-10 and coasted to a 25-12 win. The Bluebirds recovered from a slow start in the second game to lead 12-11, then outscored the Gorillas 13-5 with aggressive serves and powerful hitting to win 25-16.

Goessel dominated Halstead in the championship match. The Bluebirds’ power and defense kept the Dragons on their heels as Goessel coasted to a 25-11 win in the first game. With Kara Burkholder serving, Olivia Duerksen blocking, and Eden Hiebert hitting, Goessel surged to a 13-3 lead in the second, and ran away from the Dragons to win 25-8.

Including wins earlier in the week against Centre and Wakefield, the Bluebirds are 26-1 and 7-0 in league play. Goessel played host to league matches against Herington and 10th-ranked Rural Vista on Tuesday.