By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

Successful volleyball teams start with defending home court, and the Goessel Bluebirds did that handily Saturday, winning their home tournament.

“It is so good to see this next wave of girls excel,” head coach Crysta Guhr said. “Seven of them are playing roles that are different from last year.”

Goessel started the tournament with Canton Galva, and had little difficulty wining the match 25-16, 25-10.

The Bluebirds kept rolling against Central Christian, controlling the first game 25-6 and winning the second 25-10.

Wichita Independent gave the Blubirds their first real test. Goessel led 15-7 on several kills from Eden Hiebert, a Brittney Hiebert service ace, and a solid block from Olivia Duerksen. The Panthers rallied after a timeout, getting as close as 23-21 before the Bluebirds pulled out a 25-22 win.

In the second set the Bluebirds seemed a bit sluggish as Independent grabbed a 10-8 lead. Cierra Nolte and Duerksen turned the tide, scoring on sets from Savanna Wuest, as the Bluebirds regained the lead, 16-12, and maintained it to win 25-21.

The Bluebirds faced Halstead in the semifinals. The Dragons seemed asleep in the first set as Goessel ripped off a 25-6 win.

The sleeping Dragon awoke in the second set, hanging tough at 12-11. But the Bluebirds rattled off 9 consecutive points and advanced to the finals with a 25-14 win.

It was a Goessel-Independent rematch in the championship match.

With the score tied 7-7 Duerkesen hit a winner, Booton scored, and Brittney Hiebert served an ace. Suddenly the Bluebird lead was 13-7. Goessel led 22-13 when the Panthers scored 5 consecutive points, but Madison Smith played solid in the back row and Duerksen and Booton hit winners to give the Bluebirds a 25-21win.

In the second match, the Panthers tied the game at 8 with three points in a row, and grabbed an 11-10 lead. The Bluebirds surged ahead 18-15, and after a Panthers timeout kept the throttle down, winning 25-15.

“We needed these wins,” said Guhr. “This group of girls needs to feel the consistency of playing together and getting into a rhythm.”

The 9-0 Bluebirds played Tuesday at Elyria with Canton Galva. Thursday, they travel to Sedgwick and play Moundridge.