For the first time in four years, the Park Hill girls volleyball team climbed back to the top of its district — and it didn’t come easily.
Against one of the area’s most respected programs, the Trojans had to fight through nerves, momentum swings and old memories to reclaim the Class 5 District 8 championship.
“I started having the feeling of remembering what it feels like,” Park Hill head coach Lindsey Hood said. “I just wanted it for the girls. They’ve put in so much time and worked so hard; just wanting them to have this memory that they will keep forever is awesome.”
No. 2-seeded Park Hill defeated No. 5 Liberty by a 3-1 score on Oct. 28 at North Kansas City High School, marking the Trojans’ first district title since 2021. The win carried extra weight as Liberty has been a longtime power and constant barrier. Before this season, Park Hill had only two wins over Liberty in 29 tries since 2010. This year, they beat them three times.
“They have such a winning culture in their program that never once did we look past them because we knew that they knew what it took to win,” Hood said. “Having the resilience to keep playing through and fighting is what we needed.”
The night started with ease as Park Hill dominated the opening set 25-15, jumping out by as many as 13 points and closing it with an energetic rally saved by Tessa Walker and finished by Ava Daneff.
Park Hill senior Tessa Walker sets the ball against Liberty.
When the Trojans raced out to another big lead early in the second set, it looked like Park Hill might make quick work of their conference rival, but Liberty refused to go quietly. Down 14-4, the Blue Jays stormed back with a 15-5 run to tie the set at 19 and eventually evened the match with a 27-25 set win.
“Having the confidence of knowing we can come back,” Hood said. “Just keep maintaining that mental mindset was everything.”
The turning point came in the third set. Park Hill steadied itself, flipping a small deficit into a 25-20 win finished off with an ace by Daneff — one of nine aces on the night for the Trojans. With a 2-1 lead, Park Hill could see the finish line, but Liberty again made them earn every point.
The Blue Jays led 17-14 in the fourth set before a Park Hill timeout gave the Trojans a chance to regroup. They clawed back to tie the score at 19-19 and later trailed 22-20 before one final push.
A 5-1 run sealed the deal, ending with sophomore Payton Osegueda hammering home the fatal championship point after a seven-touch rally that left the sea of red across from the Park Hill bench in jubilation.
“I wasn’t thinking about myself,” Osegueda said. “I was just thinking more about how I just need to get this point for my team. Ultimately, in the end, it was just amazing. I don’t know how to describe it in words; it was crazy.”
The final sequence was a picture of poise and teamwork. Senior Parker Kimball served and Liberty tipped it back. Myer Cohara sent the ball to Daneff, who set it behind her for Osegueda’s running jump — and the thunderous kill that ended the match.
“I don’t know I felt comfortable until that final ball hit,” Hood said. “I can’t really say I felt anything until I saw the girls’ arms go up. Then I knew that was it for them.”
Payton Osegueda sends the ball across the net in the district championship against Liberty on Oct. 28.
Osegueda, already an all-conference and all-district performer as a freshman last year, had 13 kills in the district title match, continuing to perform on the biggest stage of her high school career. She previously led the Trojans with 15 kills in their nail-biting semifinal triumph in five sets against Liberty North on Oct. 25.
“Making sure that I’m playing for my seniors because they’ve done so much for me,” Osegueda said. “Staying humble and making sure I keep my head down, but also be a loud player through my play.”
Park Hill’s senior class — seven in total — played crucial roles in the championship. Cohara and Walker combined for 40 assists, with Cohara also pacing the team in digs and serve points. Daneff added 11 kills and contributed in various other facets, while libero Brooke Brown anchored the back line with another steady performance.
At the net, Kimball led the Trojans with 17 kills, working in tandem with Osegueda and sophomore Nikyah Chappell, whose blocking presence has been key in her breakout season.
“I’m incredibly proud of this team,” Osegueda said. “We worked so hard to get to this point. I think all the hard work and dedication has paid off and we’ve fought through hard moments as well. Just really proud of my team.”
For those seven seniors, finally winning a district title was a long time coming after entering a program as freshmen that had previously won three district titles in four years.
As Park Hill celebrated its return to the district summit, Hood and her players savored a moment they will remember for a long time.