By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

With a record of 39-0, Goessel will head to the Class 1A Division I state volleyball tournament in Hays as the number one seed in the bracket.

It did not take long into the first game at sub-state for the fans to recognize that this Bluebird team was ready for more matches. With captain Erin Brubaker serving and Olivia Duerksen at the net, ball after ball fell to the Lebo side of the court. The Lady Wolves called two timeouts but would not score until the Bluebirds reached 15. Goessel dominated the first game 25-5.

In the second set with Lebo, Page Hiebert found the hardwood with many kills. Behind 2-10, the Wolves called timeout, and again at 8-19. Goessel continued to take advantage of errors and executed well on offense to win 25-13.

Advancing past Centre, the Rural Vista Heat squared off against the Bluebirds. Hiebert seemed unstoppable as the Heat took their second timeout with the Bluebirds ahead 11-2. Alyssa Booton was getting good passes from the back row of Eden Hiebert, Brubaker and Makayla King, and she used many options, with Page Hiebert hitting winners from the left side and Alicen Meysing and Duerksen earning points from the middle. Goessel’s defense was stellar as the game ended 25-10 with a block by Meysing and Brittney Hiebert.

Every Bluebird player seemed to have success in the second set against Rural Vista. Gentry Thiessen served for points, and Brubaker and Hiebert connected regularly. The Heat committed several errors that padded the Bluebird lead. Leading 24-7, pent up adrenaline caused several Bluebird hits to sail long, delaying the celebration. Goessel ended the game and match 25-10.

“This whole group of twelve girls has embraced their roles and they are really a team,” said Goessel coach Crysta Guhr. When asked about the 39-0 record, she replied, “We have never talked about it. It’s neat. It surprises me sometimes, because we just don’t think about it. We have been looking forward to state ever since our fourth place finish last season, and we look forward to playing good volleyball.”

Goessel will play in Pool I on Friday at 3:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. The top two teams in each pool will play on Saturday beginning at 2 pm.