BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
As comebacks go, Great Bend’s volleyball team achieved a rare feat rallying from a 2-set deficit to stun 6A Manhattan in Wednesday’s 5-set thriller.
State-ranked Manhattan dominated the first two sets 25-15, 25-11 keyed by Weber State commit Bailey Busch that might’ve convinced Indian fans to chant, “Warm Up the Bus.”
Great Bend coach Tina Johnson witnessed perhaps the greatest comeback she’s seen in her longtime career.
Great Bend rallied 25-15, 25-23 and 15-11 to surprise the Indians in five sets by mixing up their attack against the Indians’ block at the net.
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“Our girls showed grit tonight. It was a great team effort, one of the most exciting matches I’ve coached,” Johnson said. “Those girls finished that match. That was awesome.”
Supersub Baylie Kelly delivered the night’s key point with a winner that clinched the fourth set 25-23 after Mikala Minton kept the point alive.
Minton delivered fourth-set winners for point 22, 23 and 24 to set up Kelly’s heroics.
The Panthers were inspired by rising star Jaya Stroup and Washburn commit Kya Behr, who set, spiked and dived for every ball she could find.
Of course, court queen Stevie Mayers fought off adversity.
Manhattan relied on a bevy of hard hitters Madison Stanard, Sophia Peabody, Ansley Becket along with setter Keeli Tope.
“We started nervous and scared, but we turned that around,” Johnson said.
Manhattan beat rival Washburn Rural for the first time in 16 years earlier this season.