Garden City sweeps Cloud; inching closer to home playoff game

Garden City, KS-With a playoff spot secured, Garden City is now closing in on home court. 

Fiona Arnold had 14 kills, Tola Maczka added 16 assists, and Garden City beat Cloud County in three 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 Friday night at Conestoga Arena. The win moved the Broncbusters within a half game of fourth place in the Jayhawk West (top four teams host in the first round). 

"I thought we did a very nice job of taking care of the ball tonight," Head Coach, Patrick Hiltz said afterwards. "We passed well so our setters were able to get our hitters some very nice opportunities."

Playing shorthanded again, Garden City (18-9, 6-6), was the aggressor from the start. The Broncbusters broke open a 9-9 score with a 10-5 surge that was punctuated by Jelena Milovanovich's powerful spike. After Cloud County responded by tying things at 20, Maczka powered home an attack, Kate Perryman followed with a block, and Garden City responded by scoring five of the final seven points. 

"When we didn't have a good look, we were extremely smart with the ball and gave ourselves opportunities to play defense and win the point another way," Hiltz explained. 

The Broncbusters came out roaring in the second. Milovanovic's kill brought the crowd to its feet, giving Garden City a 13-7 edge. Later in the frame, Arnold wacked a ball over the net, and the Thunderbirds were called for a two-touch violation, putting the Broncbusters up, 2-0. 

"We've been talking about taking better care of the ball all week, so it was really nice to see a solid, locked in mental effort from the entire group tonight," Hiltz added. 

After trailing by as many as four in the third, Garden City answered with a Hannah Brandt kill, which sparked a 7-0 run that put the Broncbusters up by three. Later in the frame, with Garden City up one, Arnold smashed a crosscourt kill before Milovanovich's spike ended the match. 

"I am proud of how we played tonight," Hiltz said. "This was a very good Cloud team. Now we have another test tomorrow."

Emily Jenkins added nine digs for the Broncbusters, which won their second straight game. Miranda Jenkins and Maczka tallied seven digs, and Arnold had three aces.