Staff writer
After defeating Peabody-Burns in two matches Oct. 8 at home, the Centre Lady Cougars had an overall record of 21-7. The matches did not count toward league totals.
Centre finished 6-1 in the Wheat State League for second place. Goessel finished in first place with a record of 7-0.
On Oct. 8, Centre rather easily defeated the Warriors in the first match, 25-12 and 25-15.
Summer Espinoza served for 9 points including four aces. Bryanna Svoboda served for 8 points and one ace, and Makenzie Deines, 7 points and one ace. Shelby Makovec had three aces, Cacey Simons two, and Brenna Shields one.
Svoboda led at the net with 15 spikes and five kills. Simons had 12 spikes, five kills, and four blocks; Shields had nine spikes and four kills; and Deines had three spikes.
Centre defeated Peabody-Burns 25-15 in the first game of the second match. The second game was more of a challenge, as the Lady Warriors came from behind to tie it at 18-18 and then take the lead. But the Lady Cougars regained the lead and won 25-21.
Shields served for 8 points and one ace, and Svoboda and Makovec each served for 7 points to lead scoring.
Svoboda compiled 24 spikes and nine kills; Simons 15 spikes, six kills, and two blocks; Shields nine spikes and four kills; and Deines 11 spikes, two kills, and one block.
In a junior varsity match, Centre defeated Peabody-Burns 25-10 and 25-8. Shelby Pankratz served for 11 points; Alexius Kendrick, 10; Kayla Love, 8; Katie Marler, 4; and Callie Riffel, 2.
It was parents’ night, and the three senior girls — Svoboda, Simons, and Deines — presented 32-year head coach Yvonne Burhoop with a flower bouquet.
“I realized the season is almost over, and for some of the players, their high school career in volleyball is coming to an end,” Burhoop said afterward. “The three seniors have led the team with their actions more so than with words.
“Every player has a very high competitive nature, which has also contributed to our team’s success this year.”
The league tournament is Saturday at Hope.