In just a one-week span, Park Hill South’s girls volleyball team doubled its win total from the first 18 matches of the season, capping a four-game winning streak with a rivalry road win on Oct. 8 against Park Hill.
The Panthers entered October with a record of 4-14, then improved to 8-14 with the help of three conference road wins and a nonconference triumph at home.
The impressive stretch began Oct. 1, when Park Hill South defeated North Kansas City 3-1 to end a seven-match losing streak. After going level at 1-1, South won the third set 25-21 and quickly clinched the match with a 25-16 win in the fourth.
South then won back-to-back matches in straight sets, first defeating Liberty North on Oct. 5 before easing past Oak Park on Oct. 6.
Park Hill South junior libero Kalyn Ziller celebrates a point with sophomore Lynnae Warfield on Oct. 8.
The Panthers’ most important victory came on Oct. 8, when they came from behind to defeat Park Hill in four sets. The pink-out cancer night brought additional meaning to the match with Ed Magyar, a beloved Park Hill South sports photographer, being honored in his fight with lymphoma.
South was fiery and energized to open the first set, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. Ultimately, Park Hill’s powerful swings responded, led by junior Nikyah Chappell, who finished off the set with a kill to put the Trojans ahead with a 25-21 first-set victory.
Then came Park Hill South’s reply. A response that won the next three sets.
Park Hill South dominated the second set, using a 7-1 run to take a 14-8 lead. A kill from freshman Mira Butler later expanded the Panthers’ lead to 20-12 before sophomore Lynnae Warfield finished it off to win the set 25-17.
Park Hill led most of the third set, but Park Hill South found momentum at the right time to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Trailing by three at several points, the Panthers completed the comeback to take their first lead at 19-18, then, using a 10-0 run, led 24-18 and finally sealed the third set 25-21.
The fourth set was the closest of the night, featuring nine lead changes before South closed it out. A Park Hill South timeout while trailing 23-21 proved pivotal, giving the Panthers one final 4-0 run to win.
Junior Devree Coughlin had 17 assists against Park Hill.
The run started with a strike from Jillian Schuller before a Park Hill attacking error tied it up at 23-23. Then junior Ava Sakic-Conner came flying onto the scene, winning the final two points to take the fourth set 25-23.
Sakic-Conner and Butler led the Panthers with a combined 22 kills. Senior Ellie Gibbs, who hit 1,000 career assists in the first set, contributed 24 total assists while Devree Coughlin added 17.
After splitting the season series, Park Hill South may get one final chance to meet Park Hill in the district semifinals. The district tournament begins Oct. 22 at Liberty North High School.