By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel High School volleyball team was focused and vocal as they advanced through 1A Division 1 Substate with two wins, each going 2-0.

“This group has grown unbelievably through this season,” Coach Crysta Guhr said. “Young, young, young, and our two senior girls — Jennifer Van Horn and Kendra Flaming — have held this team together.”

Flaming was sidelined for the volleyball season two weeks before substate with a knee injury and the rest of the team needed to fill the vacuum that was created by injury.

“It is tough to see her (Flaming) on the sidelines,” a tearful Van Horn said. “I wish she could be there on the court with us.”

“Those two seniors deserve this championship trophy,” Guhr said.

The Bluebirds faced a much-improved Burrton team. The Chargers started with a 2-0 lead, but with Van Horn serving, Paige Booton, and Makaila Schmidt getting points at the net, the Bluebirds jumped to an 11-4 lead. Nicki Bartel made excellent passes from the back row to Aimee Flaming and Jessica Harvey who kept mixing up the attack. Tia Goertzen earned several kills as the first game ended, 25-15.

In the second game, Goessel again jumped to an early lead, 9-4. The host school got as close as 9-8, but with Schmidt serving Booton, Alex Hiebert and Samantha Jarvis all collected kills. Burrton would not go away and stayed as close as 19-16, but steady play at the net by Goertzen, Van Horn, and Hiebert allowed the Bluebirds to win, 25-18.

Goessel had a focused game in the finals with Flint Hills. Although falling behind, 0-2, the Bluebirds enthusiastically came to life. Goessel outscored the Mustangs 10-1 and the momentum would never shift in game one.The Bluebirds won the game, 25-11.

In game two, the Bluebirds were full of adrenaline. Goessel jumped out to a 7-1 lead and seemed eager to finish the match and head for the state tournament. The Bluebirds played solidly and celebrated with a 25-14 win. The Bluebirds will be in pool play Friday at Hays as the No. 6 seed. Goessel will play Hoxie at 3:30 p.m., Jetmore at approximately 5:30, and St John at approximately 6:30.

The top two teams from each pool will meet Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. Goessel expects to throw a balanced attack at all the teams they play.

“Going to state was in our dreams at the beginning of the season and we finally accomplished it,” Van Horn said.