Platte County reached state for the first time in program history, and the top three attackers during a historic run to a third-place finish in Class 4 earned all-state honors from the Missouri State High School Volleyball Coaches Association.
On the heels of a 28-7-2 season, Platte County seniors Aly Anderson and Bryn McGehe and junior Kate Brown made the list in Class 4, which did not distinguish a first and second team. McGehe became a two-time selection for the Pirates.
An outside hitter and setter in a 6-2 formation, McGehe totaled 274 kills on the season, to go with 445 assists, 51 service aces and 249 digs as the most well-rounded player on the roster. She finished her career with 992 assists, 714 digs, 692 kills, 114 aces and 48 1/2 blocks.
Anderson led Platte County in both kills (328) and digs (375) in a second straight superlative season for the outside hitter. Her 328 kills were the most ever in a season for a Pirates player, and the 375 digs were fourth-most for a single season. She added 29 service aces.
In her career, Anderson totaled 811 kills and 1,013 digs.
Brown blossomed late in the season and finished with 263 kills, 38 service aces and 221 digs. Anderson (365 1/2), McGehe (346 1/2) and Brown (318) also had the top three seasons in program histories for total points, which combines kills, blocks and aces.
In the first Missouri season with required best-of-five matches, Platte County started its season minus two starters, including McGehe, with two four-set losses, one to undefeated Class 5 state champion Liberty North. The Pirates were 3-5 overall following a rough trip to the Lansing Tournament in early September but went unbeaten in the next 21 and wrapped up a second straight unbeaten Suburban Conference Blue Division title.
Platte County then bounced back from a five-set loss to Liberty to clip Kearney in the Class 4 District 16 final before topping Pembroke Hill and Grain Valley in the playoffs to reach state for the first time. The Pirates lost a five-set heartbreaker to Parkway West in the semifinals before bouncing back to beat Nerinx Hall in the third-place match.
Last in the playoffs after a Class district title in 2014 while in the largest of four classifications, Platte County had just two playoff wins in program history before this season. The Pirates found a new path in the playoffs when the state expanded to five classes for this season, and they remained in Class 4.
AMERICAN VOLLEYBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-REGION
Bryn McGehe, Sr.
MISSOURI STATE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-STATE
Aly Anderson, Sr.; Kate Brown, Jr.; Bryn McGehe, Sr.
MSHSVCA ALL-DISTRICT
First Team
Aly Anderson, Sr.; Bryn McGehe, Sr.; Kate Brown, Jr.; Emerson Walter, Jr.
Second Team
Presli Firkins, Sr.; Haley Luna, Sr.
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE BLUE DIVISION
First Team
Aly Anderson, Sr.; Bryn McGehe, Sr.; Kate Brown, Jr.; Emerson Walter, Jr.; Presli Firkins, Sr.
Second Team
Haley Luna, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Mary Grace Hunter, So.
