North Platte volleyball says goodbye to 1 senior after season-ending loss

North Platte’s difficult rebuilding season came to an end Monday, Oct. 17 in Class 2 District 16 play in Lawson, Mo.

Bishop LeBlond romped to a 25-12, 25-16 victory in a first-round matchup. The Panthers finished at 4-24-1 with just one senior and three juniors on the roster.

Lauren Payne entered the season as the only returning player with varsity experience. The senior setter finished her final match with seven assists.

North Platte sophomores McKenzie Brockhoff and Kelsey Reynolds developed into the top attackers for the Panthers this season. Reynolds recorded five kills against LeBlond and added six digs — tied with Brockhoff for the team-high in the loss.

Hayleigh Moore, a junior, ended up with two blocks.

North Platte lost seven of eight players from 2015, forcing coach Scott McInnis, who recorded his 150th career win as coach last season, to retool the lineup. The departing senior class went 69-25-4 from 2013-2015, won two straight KCI Conference Tournament and took the regular season league crown in 2013 and 2015.

This season, North Platte opened with six straight losses before beating St. Joseph Christian for the first of two times. The Panthers’ lone KCI win against Hamilton.

West Platte 2, North Platte 0

The Bluejays closed KCI Conference play with a 25-11, 25-19 win Tuesday, Oct. 11 at North Platte High School in Dearborn, Mo.

Jordan Schultz and Nealie Niemeier — both seniors — finished with seven kills, helping West Platte finish with a 6-1 record league play, second to Mid-Buchanan in the final standings. North Platte went 1-6 with the lone win against Hamilton.

Megan Kottman collected four service aces, while Schultz added three. Kottman, the senior setter, put up 26 assists.

Reynolds posted team-highs of nine kills and seven digs, while Payne had 12 assists. 

West Platte was scheduled to open Class 1 District 15 play against Wellington-Napoleon on Tuesday, Oct. 18, but the result was not available at The Citizen’s deadline. The semifinals and finals will be played Thursday, Oct. 20 in Lone Jack, Mo.