By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel Bluebirds volleyball team captured its eighth consecutive regular season Wheat State League championship in a triangular contest at Hope.

Rural Vista, ranked seventh in Class 1A Division I, was the Bluebirds’ biggest test. Goessel was ranked second in 2A.

The first set began with both teams scoring on hard hits. When Goessel took a 13-7 lead, the Heat called time-out to regroup. But Goessel remained focused and forced another Heat time-out with the lead at 19-9. Goessel coasted to a 25-12 win.

Rural Vista matched the Bluebirds at the outset of the second set and lead 10-9. Eden and Brittney Hiebert connected on winning shots, but the Heat battled back to retake the lead 16-15. Leah Booton, Eden Hiebert, and Brittney Hiebert punctuated a surge with decisive kills as the Bluebirds captured the second set with a final score of 25-19.

In a match against Herington, the Bluebirds traded errors to an 8-8 tie in the opening set. But the Bluebirds’ combination of defense and offense thrust them to a 25-12 win. The Bluebirds dominated the Railers in the second set, 25-6.

Goessel finished the WSL regular season 9-0. Goessel’s overall record is now 29-0.

The Bluebirds played Inman and Moundridge at Little River on Tuesday and will be host to the WSL tournament Saturday.