Team Preview: Panthers Ready To Claw Their Way To State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Great Bend Panthers finished with a record of 35-5 last season and will be hunting a state title in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers lost their two top attackers to graduation, so there will be a need for some young talent to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have one of the most athletic setters in the state and are just one of several teams in Western Kansas trying to claw a state title from the beast schools in the east.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is my third team preview of the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can use the following links to read my other two team previews.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/08/team-preview-beloit-trojans-are-state-contenders/">Beloit Trojans</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/08/team-preview-seaman-will-be-young-and-talented/">Seaman Vikings</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a side note, tomorrow I will be on Kansas Sports Chatter's podcast in the “Talking Volleyball” segment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As of right now, I have the Panthers' September 23 match in Junction City as a scouting option on my calendar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the Prep Dig-ranked athletes on the Panthers' roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434374' first='Kya' last='Behr']</strong>, 5'10”, S, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers will be led by a “most athletic” (A little tribute to Bill and Ted) junior in Behr. She is ranked No. 8 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She is the third-highest-ranked setter in the Kansas Class of 2027, and the two in front of her have already verbally committed to Division I programs. She had a robust stat line last season, which included 829 assists, 211 kills, and 35 blocks. She has posted back-to-back seasons with 30-plus blocks, an impressive accomplishment for a setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='623131' first='Mikala' last='Minton']</strong>, 5'7”, OH/S, '28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minton is ranked No. 17 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028 by Prep Dig. She should be in the starting rotation and could share some of the setting duties. She finished her freshman season with 21 assists, 153 kills, and 296 digs. She is a six-rotation athlete with the versatility to play anywhere in a lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828323' first='Micah' last='Ellegood']</strong>, 5'11”, MB, '28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ellegood is ranked No. 27 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. She recorded 82 kills in 87 varsity sets as a freshman. &nbsp;She also accounted for 40 blocks last fall. She has a big reach and will be one of the taller athletes on the Great Bend squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800295' first='Ava' last='Kaiser']</strong>, 5'7”, DS/L, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaiser is ranked No. 104 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She is coming off a junior campaign with 457 serve receptions and 353 digs. She will be the backbone of the Panthers' back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829133' first='Alex' last='Mayers']</strong>, 5'7”, OH, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayers ranked No. 169 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. She recorded 170 kills and 255 digs during her sophomore season. She is another versatile athlete that the Panthers' coaching staff can utilize in a utility role, or she could become the team's primary weapon on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='623127' first='Meredith' last='Mazouch']</strong>, 5'3”, DS/L, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mazouch is ranked No. 170 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She should be utilized in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828363' first='Stevie' last='Mayers']</strong>, 6'0”, MB, '29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mayers is a tall freshman who could see some varsity playing time in the middle. She is ranked No. 20 overall in the Kansas Class of 2029. I saw her play club ball last season and was impressed with her blocking skills for such a young athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other athletes currently not ranked who could play key roles are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='834279' first='Kimmy' last='Hofflinger']</strong> ('26), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812735' first='Denver' last='Ringo']</strong> ('26), and <strong>Jaya Stroup</strong> ('29).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->