Deja vu Blue- Goessel Wins Canton-Galva Invitational
Volleyball -Canton October 4, 2014
Goessel’s Bluebirds were fully warmed up after a long inauguration day tourney in Canton’s beautiful new gymnasium. In the finals, the Lady Blue earned 19 incredible points in each set, closing out Halstead 25-12, 25-15 for the championship. Page Hiebert, Alyssa Booton, and Erin Brubaker were named to the All-Tournament team. Fans would have liked to see at least one and perhaps two additional Bluebirds on the All-Tourney team. In pool play, Goessel defeated host Canton-Galva 25-12, 25-18, the closest any opponent would get to the Birds all day. At 10:30 Goessel fought hard with a determined Solomon team but prevailed 25-14, 25-7. Against Little River, the ‘Blue pummeled the Redskins 25-9, 25-7. After winning their pool, Goessel took on 2nd place pool B Sunrise Christian and moved to the finals with a 25-12, 25-15 win. 1st Place Pool B Halstead defeated Solomon to make the finals, but succumbed to the ‘Blue onslaught.
Canton-Galva v. Goessel
This was the inaugural event at Canton’s new gym. First serve: Erin Brubaker. First Set: Alyssa Booton First Kill: Page Hiebert. First Block: Olivia Duerksen. First ace: Page Hiebert. The Eagles played scrappy ball, surviving and returning several “unreturnable hits.” Goessel went up 5-1 but the Eagles fought back. Page smothered a crosscourt smash, then Alicen started off a great day with two blocks in the middle. This one was at 11-6 and the Bluebird’s blocking had earned twice as many points as kills. Page dropped a perfect poof-ace to go 13-6, Goessel exhibited top notch receive, pass and set in this set and all day. Page blasted one to the new skyscraper elevator, then Alyssa caressed another soft serve and Goessel’s hitters took turns slamming to finish 25-12. First win: Bluebirds.
Alyssa started with a gorgeous ace, the first ball to enter the upper deck. The Birds were out of rhythm in the early morn, committing three service errors. Erin notched a key block to go to 11-8, then Olivia brought the crowd to their feet with a screaming touch downblock. After Erin finished left, the Eagles called time. Page ripped red white and blue roundness all day and blasted one crosscourt for the 16-10 lead. The Eagles kept finding answers and the ‘Blue could not seem to get any runs going. Erin kazoomed one down the line for 22-15 and Alicen caught a quick set in the middle and faloomped it southwest. Again the Eagles literally deflected a bullet for a winner, but got only as close as 18 when Olivia found another perfect roof to close 25-18. Nevertheless, this was the closest any team got today against the ‘Blue.
Solomon Gorillas v. Goessel
Against a determined Gorilla band, Goessel continued a bit out of sync and this one went all the way to 12-12 before the ‘Blue could find some rhythm. Early highlights included a Brittney/Alicen roof, a Mak Attack ace, and a booming shot from Alicen that buzzed the seismometers in Harper. Alicen notched a nice block, but the Gorillas picked it up, then Erin packed heat and slammed it down. In this highly contested set, the lead changed hands six times. Erin found nothing but court on an ace into Hiebert corner to retake the lead 12-11, but Goessel only stayed up for good after an absolutely soaring crush c/o Page, then an Alyssa screaming dive-ace. On a roll and in rhythm, Page gave a double stomp, and the rest of the contest was “boom-boom-boom.” Eden served a 5-0 run, Alicen blocked and Page slithered another ace for the 25-14 win, the Gorillas collapsing against the 13-2 end game.
The second set the Bluebird arms were ready to roll. Goessel earned 20 points and committed only 3 errors as the wise northern rain forest friends earned 4 for a nearly textbook highlight reel delivery. Olivia smashed in the middle, then blocked, shared in a dual block with Brittney. Alicen slalomed one sideways in the middle and Erin pocketed a perfect tip. Alicen skedoodled a massive shot midstream then another back to back to the depths of the court. With Erin serving, Goessel stuffed, blasted, blocked and killed at will to go from 19-7 to the finish line 25-7.
Little River v. Goessel
At 12:20 pm, Goessel exhibited excellent passing, receiving, setting and overall defense in utterly shutting down rival Little River’s game. Alyssa showed as an emerging “most potent” server, with runs up front and at the end of this contest. Page notched two big finishes, Alyssa sealed an ace, and Alicen blasted in the middle off a Booton quick set. Erin got back to back left side blasts then stepped to the line for an ace. After a Blue block, Alyssa hit from the right for her kill of the night. Goessel ran it to 18-9, then Alyssa was up to serve again and served out the set, including a flaming power finale from Page that nearly caused another train wreck on the tracks north of town. 25-9 Goessel.
The Redskins could mount very little blocking on Goessel’s front line and this one was all Blue. Goessel went to 18-3, with 16 of those earned including 5 aces. Page collected 7 kills in the run. At 19-5, Renken hit a winner that literally left the room and (what seemed like) minutes later Erin came back onto the court with the ball. Leah saw an opportunity to play in this one, but her serve sailed long. Olivia swatted one in the middle, Erin harrumphed one down and Gentry hit a beautiful carousing soft ace to close 25-7.
Sunrise Christian v. Goessel
Out of pool play, Goessel faced the Pool B 2nd place Sunrise Academy Buffaloes. The ‘Blue jumped on the Buffs quickly nailing a 12-2 lead. Alyssa highlighted with a bullet ace; Alicen made a strong bid for a position on the all-tournament team with outstanding presence in the middle. Goessel worked several triple block attempts and socked one down at 12-2. Page clocked one from the back row then did a perfect reach get for a sumptuous save. Erin poked two soft winners and Olivia polished one off another pretty “close in” set. Eden ace. Alicen kill; Alicen block and hanging tip drop-shot southwest. Goessel only committed four errors in this one and the set closed 25-12.
The Birds moved through the second set in a steady assured manner. Brittney and Alicen blocked to lead 3-2 and Goessel never looked back. Page flew for a gorgeous leaping shot, then Erin hit back to back closes from the corner. At 16-8 Page uncorked another that ended up mysteriously flying between the “hot” and “cold” water towers. Eden flew another special ace and Alicen absolutely pummeled one. The Buffaloes were able to prevail in the longest/best exchange of the contest. Alicen flummoxed the Buffs to lead 22-13 then Erin and Alicen combined for a dual to take it to 24-15. Olivia closed with a middle shot 25-15.
Makayla King
Senior Makayla King works hard as a defensive specialist for the Bluebirds. Her aggressive “Mak Attack” serving has been key during her entire Goessel career. While her family, including her little brother, is making a new home in Coeur d’Alene Idaho, Makayla returned to play her senior year. Her chocolate lab puppy, Bree, has become a favorite, and is growing a wee bit every day. Makayla participates in choir, band, Elbiata, FFA and basketball. She moved from tenor to bari sax this past year. Some of her favorite foods include breakfast burritos, pickled okra, almost anything at Braum’s, and chocolate ice cream. Makayla helps lead the team warm up cheer, is not afraid to do what it takes to make things happen, and earns her role every day. She is fast becoming famous for her leap and tuck, where she gets nearly three feet of air with seemingly no legs. Thanks for your many contributions, Makayla, and for what you do to keep this Bluebird team focused and ready.
Halstead v. Goessel
In perfect rhythm, Goessel could not have scripted a much more perfect finish to the day. In each set of the championship match, the ‘Blue earned 19 of 25 points and their opponents earned less than 6 each set. Most of the Goessel errors came on errant hits rather than miscues or communication faults. This one was a continuous highlight reel. Eden stretched horizontally in deep right field for an incredible get, Page and Alicen double blocked and Alicen dented the new pine twice. Erin shazzamed one then got the creeper roll across the breadth of the net. At 12-8, with Erin serving, Goessel went on a 10-0 run, with closes from Olivia, Page and three aces. Page tipped and the Buffs knocked one out to finish 25-12. In the second, Page had 7 kills, Erin 3 and the Bluebirds had winners on five separate blocks, including the finale to close 25-15. First tournament win in new gym: Goessel!
Goessel continues its quest for a wonderful season finish with this championship. With October moving forward, the Blue are poised and ready to fulfill their dreams. Relentless.
