Platte County found another way to pull an improbable comeback, this time in a Suburban Conference Blue Division matchup.
Down 23-16 in the third and tiebreaking set, the Pirates came all the way back for a 25-20, 19-25, 26-24 win Thursday, Aug. 31 at Platte County High School. Lauren Walker (12 kills) and Kenzie Polley (11 kills) —both seniors — led the offense, while senior Haylie Jerome and junior Carli Hensley provided key service points during the third set.
Earlier in the week, Platte County won a rare five-set match by taking the final three in a matchup with Lee’s Summit North.
The ladies were not only physically tough this week but mentally tough,” Platte County coach Katlyn Donovan said. “I think after the first set we got comfortable with how we were playing, and Winnetonka did a nice job of adjusting and started to play very good defense. They did a nice job of keeping us out of system, and we couldn’t really get our offense going in the second set and some of the third.”
Platte County (3-2) had won three straight — two in Blue Division play — entering a conference matchup Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Kearney (result not available at The Citizen’s deadline). The Pirates also travel to Grandview on Thursday, Sept. 7 ahead of the Winnetonka Tournament this weekend.
In the win over Winnetonka, Platte County served up eight aces, including two apiece for freshman Aly Anderson, sophomore Ashley Bell and senior Lily Harrison.
Walker and junior Jaycie Stubbs contributed four blocks apiece for the Pirates’ defense, while junior Carli Hensley led the way with 24 digs. Bell assisted on 37 of 43 kills, while adding three of her own from the setter spot.
Park Hill South 2, St. Joseph Central 0
Annika Welty recorded 14 kills on 20 attack attempts in a 25-16, 25-17 sweep Thursday, Aug. 31 at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo.
Improving to 6-0 on the season, Park Hill South was solid on defense with 40 digs and nine blocks. Welty, a senior committed to Creighton, added three blocks to her strong offensive night.
Adah Anderson, a freshman, had 12 digs with five players contributing at least four for Park Hill South.
Lee’s Summit West 2, Park Hill 0
The Trojans dropped a second straight home match Thursday, Aug. 31 at Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo. Lee’s Summit West left with a 25-22, 25-19 sweep in a tight Suburban Conference Gold Division matchup.
Park Hill dropped to 2-2 (0-2 Gold Division) entering a Tuesday, Sept. 5 matchup at Raymore-Peculiar.
Platte County 2, Raytown South 0
The Pirates dominated their Blue Division opener Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Platte County High School.
Coming off an emotional five-set win the night before against Lee’s Summit North, Platte County wans’t challenged in the 25-7, 25-12 sweep. The Pirates had 27 kills and just eight attacking errors, while Walker, Kinsi Hoegler and Haylie Jerome had two service aces apiece.
Polley led the offense with six kills, while freshman Aly Anderson, Lauren Walker and Bell had five apiece. Bell also provided 18 assists from her server spot for Platte County.
Park Hill South 2, Liberty North 0
The Panthers won their Suburban Conference Red Division opener with a 25-18, 25-5 sweep Tuesday, Aug. 29 in Liberty, Mo.
Park Hill South pulled away in the second set with Welty leading the attack with 11 kills on just 18 attempts, and she added a team-high four service aces. Abbie Day, one of the Panthers’ standout freshmen, added three serves.
Day and Adah Anderson led the Park Hill South defense with a combined 24 digs, 14 for Anderson.
Lee’s Summit 2, Park Hill 0
The Trojans suffered their first loss in a Gold Division opener Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Park Hill committed 15 defensive, 10 block, nine attack, eight service and four serve receive errors in Lee’s Summit’s 25-22, 25-19 win. The Trojans’ offense included six kills for junior Sabrina Lane and five apiece for junior Rachel Pella and freshman Kristen Brimingham.
Pella also added a team-high three blocks, while Lane matched senior defensive specialist Madison Michaelis with 13 digs.