(photo courtesy USD 380 twitter (@usd380))

The Centralia lady Panthers have made a second home in Hays, Kansas as they have been a regular over the years at the State volleyball tournament and are headed back this year after winning the Sub-State title on Saturday at Frankfort. 

Rolling into the postseason unbeaten Centralia earned the number one seed and had a first round bye pushing them into the Semifinals automatically. In the Semifinals the Panthers took down Onaga in straight sets 25-4, 25-14 to move one win shy of their 26th bid to the State volleyball tournament. In the Championship the Panthers took on a tough and game Immaculata team and needed three sets to secure the win 25-21, 18-25, 25-22 to remain unbeaten and head to State winning the Sub-State title. 

The win moves Centralia to 40-0 on the season and they are back at State for the 26th time in school history and for the sixth straight year, having finished third or better the previous five years including a pair of State titles. The Panthers finished as State runner-up last year after winning the 1A-DI State title in 2014 and 2013. Centralia also ranks #1 by the latest KVA in 1A-DI poll. 

The State tournament is set to begin next Friday, October 28th in Hays and the Panthers will hit the court to open the State tournament with pool play in the afternoon session starting at 3:30pm vs. Pretty Prairie; 5:30pm vs. Hanover and 8:30pm vs. LaCrosse. (All the matches will broadcasted on 92.1 KMZA)