Hoyt earns shining moment in 2nd set of senior night sweep of William Chrisman

Madison Hoyt waited four years for her turn then picked a fitting time to have the definitive moment of her career to this point.

On an early season Senior Night, Platte County’s 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker came up with two of her team-high three block assists and four of her seven kills during the second set of a dominant 25-9, 25-13, 25-14 sweep of William Chrisman on Tuesday at Platte County High School. Hoyt played in a limited role during recent years but has increasingly asserted herself as a force at the net for the Pirates, who ended the week on an 11-match winning streak to improve to 14-3.

“It was pretty exciting,” Hoyt said. “I think it helped that we’ve really started to come together as a team, you know, working together, and I had a big fan section here and I think that helped, as well.”

Hoyt, three-year contributor Karsyn Stehlik and injured Makenzie Ryerson were honored before the match, but Platte County’s senior trio has plenty left to do this season, now on the precipice of a sixth straight 20-win season with a lineup not necessarily young but short on experience coming into the season.

The rapid development of Hoyt and sophomore Karlee Riggs have been key, while junior Kendall Johnson continues to hit her stride as a top outside attacker. She went for a team-high 12 kills against William Chrisman, while Stehlik added eight and Riggs matched Hoyt with seven.

“I think a lot of our girls have embraced the roles they’ve been given, so that has been really nice to see,” Platte County coach Katlyn Donovan said. “We’re trying to push each other as much as possible to get ready for the end of the year.

“I think what we needed to do was build the trust with the six we have on the court, and they’ve done that.”

After the dominant opening set, Platte County jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second, capped with back-to-back well-struck kills from Riggs. The advantage expanded to 14-4 and then 19-5 on the strength of three big runs. Hoyt and Johnsons started the second with a pair of kills, and junior setter Emma Harned capped it with a nifty dump kill.

After a sideout made it 14-5, Platte County’s 5-run included an ace from Stehlik and then back-to-back kills in the middle for Hoyt. The kill to make it 19-5 came from Johnson, who powered the ball off of a Bears defender forcing a carom that rattled the cage of a fluorescent lighting fixture on the ceiling.

Harned effectively dished out 32 assists with seven players recording at least three kills, continuing her development as the replacement for two-year starter and school-record holder Emerson Walter.

“I think she’s stepped it up a lot,” Hoyt said. “Obviously, Emerson was really our primary setter, and Emma really took that spot and she’s done a great job.”

William Chrisman took a brief 2-0 lead in the third set. The momentum didn’t last, and Platte County followed with a 7-1 run and would not trail again in the Suburban Conference White Division matchup. In addition to the five blocks, the Pirates were solid and balanced on defense again with Harned tallying 12 digs, junior Jenna Wheeler adding 10, Ava Wheeler seven and Johnson six.

Donovan went into the season with a deep set of options that also included Ryerson, who looked to compete for time in the front row alongside Hoyt and Murray but has suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Platte County continues to rotate deep through the roster in matches like Tuesday’s when the Pirates build a big lead, and the players trust the process that has brought so much success in recent years.

After a season-opening loss to Kearney, Platte County ran off three straight wins. The Pirates then dropped the first two matches of the previous weekend’s Lansing Tournament before rallying back for fifth with the first three of what’s become 11 straight wins entering Tuesday’s home match with Class 5 powerhouse Liberty North.

“Donovan’s going to do what she knows is best for the team,” Hoyt said. “I think we all know after a loss how to come together and build each other up and help each other get back to those wins.”

Platte County junior Tatiana Murray recorded four service aces and three kills in the win, and Stehlik added three with the pair accounting for the majority of the Pirates’ total of 10. Pirates sophomore Ava Moffitt also received time on the attack and put up three kills, as well.

Platte County 3, Belton 1

After dropping the opening set, Platte County rallied back for a 25-27, 25-20, 25-14, 25-14 victory in White Division play Thursday in Belton.

The offense again looked multi-faceted with Johnson (13), Stehlik (11), Riggs (nine) and Hoyt (eight) almost contributing equally to the offensive performance. Harned dished out a career-high 42 assists and made just two errors in 118 ball handling attempts.

Johnson added three of Platte County’s seven aces, while Hoyt totaled a career high seven blocks (six assists and one solo). Murray, Stehlik and Johnson all put up four blocks apiece in the best defensive showing at the net this season for Platte County’s undersized frontline.

Platte County improved to 4-0 in White Division play and has now won 43 straight conference games dating back to three straight Blue Division championships before moving up to a different tier this season.

Winnetonka Invitational

Platte County swept through the Winnetonka Invitational on Saturday at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, winning the title for a third straight year. In fact, the Pirates have not dropped a set in the tournament since 2020.

All six of the wins over Oak Park, Maryville, Fort Osage, Lawson, Pembroke Hill and St. Pius X were 2-0 sweeps.

In the 25-5, 25-9 pool opener vs. Oak Park, Murray put up 10 kills and Jenna Wheeler added nine service aces in addition to her team-high six digs. The Pirates then kept their sweep streak alive with a tight 26-24, 25-20 victory over Maryville. Harned had 21 assists and no errors with the majority of offense coming from Johnson (eight kills), Murray (six kills) and Hoyt (four kills). Stehlik and Riggs added three apiece, while Johnson and Hoyt had three block assists apiece.

Harned also recorded a team-high 12 digs, while Johnson added seven and Stehlik and Ava Wheeler seven apiece.

Platte County closed pool play with a dominant 25-15, 25-13 effort against Fort Osage, and Stehlik’s six kills led the offense. The Pirates also received five kills apiece from Johnson and Riggs, while Harned and Johnson led the defense with nine digs apiece.

In bracket play, Platte County opened with a 25-13, 25-12 romp over Lawson with Johnson putting up 10 of the Pirates’ 33 kills in two sets. Harned assisted on 30 and added a team-high two service aces, while Ava Wheeler had the other and a team-high 12 digs.

Platte County advanced to the semifinals and dispatched Pembroke Hill 25-17, 25-18 with Johnson again hitting double digits with 10 kills and Riggs adding seven. Stehlik posted four of the Pirates’ eight service aces and Harned had two more in addition to six digs. Ava Wheeler posted a team-high seven digs, and Johnson also had six digs.

In the championship match, Platte County swept St. Pius X 25-20, 25-19 to secure the title. Murray led a balanced offense from the middle with eight kills while Riggs added six and Johnson five. Hoyt provided the defense in the middle with six blocks, including two solo.

Harned recorded 22 assists and a team-high eight digs for Platte County, while junior Avery Walter came off the bench to contribute seven and Jenna Wheeler and Johnson added six apiece. Wheeler had five plus two of the Pirates’ four service aces.