By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

The Goessel Bluebirds have come to expect state-ranked foes when they play in the annual midseason Olpe volleyball tournament, and while this year’s event was no exception, Goessel came away with another championship.

Madison-Hamilton was up first for the Bluebirds in the round-robin event. Goessel won the first game 25-10, and then overcame a 9-point deficit in the second to win 25-19.

The Bluebirds followed that up by dominating Bishop Seabury 25-8, 25-8.

However, Wabaunsee, ranked fifth in 2A by Kansas Volleyball Association, provided one of the sternest tests of the season.

The Bluebirds lost the first set 25-18, but rebounded in the second, winning 25-18 to force a third game.

“Both teams were ranked, both teams had great hitters, both teams were fighting hard,” coach Crysta Guhr said.

The score went back and forth the whole match. Olivia Duerksen, Cierra Nolte and Brittney Hiebert keyed the Bluebirds’ defense by repeatedly blocking Wabaunsee’s hits. However, even with Savannah Wuest dishing out assists to strikers Eden Hiebert and Leah Booton and Kara Burkholder serving aggressively, the Bluebirds trailed 23-24 and were in jeopardy of losing the match.

Eden Hiebert ended a long volley with a score to draw the score even. Booton blocked for the lead and then hit a winner to give Goessel a 26-24 win.

“We had 14 blocks in that match,” Guhr said. “It was amazing. We took their best hitter out of her game.”

Goessel had little trouble with Northern Heights, winning 25-6, 25-10, and dispatched host Olpe, 25-13, 25-23, for the championship.

Goessel is 19-1 and 5-0 in league play. They played Centre and Wakefield on Tuesday in Herington.