History speaks for its self when knowing how good Centralia Panther volleyball has been over the years, but a State title had been elusive for a few years with the last one coming in 2006, that changed in Hays this year as the Panthers pounced on a State title battling for the championship in Class 1A-Division I.

Centralia took to the court early Friday morning get their journey underway at State, again this season, as the three seed the Panthers squared off with Waverly up first. Panthers started off sluggish as the six seed, Waverly captured set one 25-21, sending the Panthers on their heels early but that didn’t stymie Centralia. An early 4-1 lead in set two, grew to a 10 point lead in the middle of the set and the Panthers cruising to a 25-10 set two win and dominating set three 25-8, taking an early 8-1 lead and not looking back.

Panthers in their second pool play match faced off against the seven seed, Pike Valley. Centralia took the lead in set one but Pike Valley battled back to make it tight, but the Panthers not rattled grab set one 25-20. Set two proved to be all Centralia as they never trailed in the set and took the match 25-14.

To finish off pool play Centralia played the two seed, Hoxie who they played twice at the State tournament last year and split those matches. Just like last year the Hoxie Indians got the best of the Panthers in pool play this time winning in straight sets 25-21, 25-20. That put Centralia as the runner-up in the pool with a 2-1 record moving them to the Semifinal’s to face Spearville the four seed who won the other pool.

After day one, Coach Kimbrook Tennal was feeling like the team could step their game up and it was Coach Tennal’s son that gave him an analogy for a pep talk for the team. Coach Tennal took a pencil and said this is me without you girls and broke the pencil and he did the same saying that is the girls without each other and the coaches and the broke the pencil. He said individually the pencils are easy to break but when you put us all together even a strong guy like me can break all these pencils and that is our team together.

That pep talk rejuvenated the squad going into the Semifinal’s  and the Panthers came out and took down Spearville in the Semi’s in straight sets 25-21 and 25-22, setting up a rematch against Hoxie in this time for the 1A-Division I State title.

Last year after Centralia lost to Hoxie in the pool play, the Panthers beat Hoxie for third place, this time more up for grabs but it was the same outcome for Centralia winning in three sets, 21-25, 25-20 and 25-16. Panthers fell in set one 25-21 to Hoxie but stayed composed and battled back to secure their 11^th State title in school history.

Leading the way for the Panthers in the State tournament was every girl on the team, contributing in some way shape of from but three girls earned all Class 1A-Division I State All-Tournament team. Senior, Kaitlyn Koch for the third straight year earned the honors, while juniors, Katy Haufler and Amaris Jones both earned the All-tournament honors, too.

Centralia wrapped up the State tournament going 4-1 in competition finishing their year 38-6 and ending another season with a State title, capping off a dominate season.