Platte County’s schedule did no favors for the inexperienced Pirates.
With limited contributors back from a year ago, Platte County lost in straight sets to Lee’s Summit North on Monday, Aug. 29, dropping to 0-3 after three matches against tough Class 4 opponents. The Broncos won 25-9, 25-19 with Platte County unable to overcome the slow start in the first set.
Carli Hensley recorded eight digs on defense, while Kenzie Polley led the offense with five kills.
CHRIS PATTERSON/Citizen photo
Platte County senior Alex Huntley (15) goes for a block during a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays in the Pirates’ opener.
Staley 2, Platte County 0
The Pirates dropped their second straight match to open the season, this one against a Class 4 state contender Thursday, Aug. 25 at Staley High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Hensley turned in a solid day in the 25-15, 25-19 loss for Platte County, contributing two service aces and a match-high 24 digs. Polley led the attack with five kills.
Liberty 2, Platte County 1
The Pirates experienced a slight breakdown in communication in the season opener Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Platte County High School, according to first-year coach Katlyn Donovan.
After taking the opening set, the Pirates lost the final two in a disappointing defeat. Lauren Walker (six), Polley (five) and Bailey Harris (five) combined to lead their attack in kills, while Harris and Ashley Bell were the main players providing service.
Harris totaled 12 assists, while Bell ended up with eight. Alex Huntley and Hensley recorded two service aces apiece, and Hensley led the defense with 15 digs.
“We came out with high energy and lots of communication in set one,” Donovan said. “I feel like our communication decreased in sets two and three, which is something we will continue to work on.”
Park Hill South 2, Oak Park 0
The Panthers stayed undefeated with a straight sets win Monday, Aug. 29 in Kansas City, Mo. They were scheduled to play again Tuesday, Aug. 30 against Liberty North, but the result was not available at The Citizen’s deadline.
Andi Elley, Bri Bartosh and Emily Day recorded nine digs apiece in the victory.
Annika Welty and Bartosh also continued to lead the offense with nine kills apiece, while Elley added seven. Allison Sadler, Park Hill South’s setter, put up 25 assists.
Park Hill South 2, Lee’s Summit North 1
For the second time in three matches, the Panthers needed three sets to earn a win.
Park Hill South went three sets just three times in the entire 2015 regular season, including a loss to Lee’s Summit North. In the rematch Thursday, Aug. 25 in Lee’s Summit, Welty starred in the middle for Park Hill South, collecting 10 kills and four blocks.
Bartosh added seven kills and Elley five in the Panthers’ win. Sadler provided 23 assists while also posting four kills from her setter spot.
Park Hill South 2, North Kansas City 0
Bartosh continued a dominant start to her season with a team-high 11 kills in a sweep Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo.
After leading Park Hill South’s attack in the opener vs. Staley, Bartosh accounted for more than a third of the Panthers’ kills against North Kansas City. Welty added eight kills, while Elley ended up with seven in addition to a team-high three service aces.
Sadler had 22 assists.
Park Hill 2, Oak Park 0
A balanced attack of Kai Welsh, Rachel Pella and Tyah Barnett led the Trojans to their first win Thursday, Aug. 25 at Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Welsh led all players with eight kills, while Barnett and Pella added seven apiece, also more than the top attacker for Oak Park. Pella also led Park Hill with three of its four blocks, while junior Kayla Huffman had 23 assists from her setter spot.
Winnetonka 2, Park Hill 0
The Griffins won both sets 25-20 on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Barnett recorded team-highs in kills (six) and service aces (two) in Park Hill’s loss. Chelsea Edwards also had a pair of kills for the Trojans.
Pella, a sophomore, posted five blocks and five kills for Park Hill.