Platte County senior Kendall Johnson and junior Karlee Riggs were both named to the Class 4 Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association all-state teams for a second consecutive season. The attacking duo helped the Pirates to a 22-8-2 record, the seventh straight season of at least 20 wins for a remarkably consistent program under coach Katlyn Donovan.
After a loss to Class 5 power Liberty North, Platte County reeled off 11 straight victories to claim a third Class 4 District 8 title in the past four years before exiting the postseason with a tight five-set loss to St. Michael the Archangel in the state quarterfinals. The Pirates’ resilient season that included a a quick rebuild to replace three critical starters came up just short of a third state semifinal berth in four seasons. after claiming a Class 4 third-place trophy in both 2020 and 2022 sandwiched around a Class 5 District 8 championship match loss to Park Hill in the year between after a brief move into the state’s largest tier.
A three-year starter, Johnson moved into third all-time for kills at Platte County with 806, finishing her career behind only Aly Anderson (811) and Kate Brown (893). She also ended up with 100 aces, 140 blocks and 490 digs as a full-rotation player.
Johnson’s final two seasons were remarkably consistent, totaling exactly 307 kills and 232 digs in both 2022 and 2023 despite playing 14 fewer sets this past fall. She set a career-high for kills in a match with 22 in a memorable regular season comeback win over rival Smithville. Her senior season also included 44 service aces and 38 blocks.
Now all-state in each of her first two seasons as a starter, Riggs put up 262 kills — third on the team behind Johnson and senior Tatianna Murray (287) — plus 49 digs and 27 blocks from her spot as outside hitter on the left. Riggs will enter her senior season at 544 career kills with a chance to become the Pirates’ fourth member of the 800-kill club.
Riggs played her best down the stretch of this past season, recording eight of her 10 matches with double-digit kills during the 11-game win streak and playoff game. She set a career-high with 28 in the dramatic 3-1 victory over St. Pius X in the Class 4 District 8 title game.
The offense benefitted from fourth-year senior contributor Ava Wheeler, who moved into the starting setter role and recorded the third-most assists in a season. She bested the previous mark of 709 that Ashley Bell had held since 2017.
PLATTE COUNTY POSTSEASON HONORS
Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association
Class 4 All-State
Kendall Johnson, Sr.; Karlee Riggs, Jr.
All-Class 4 District 8
First Team
Kendall Johnson, Sr.; Tatianna Murray, Sr.; Karlee Riggs, Jr.; Ava Wheeler, Sr.; Jenna Wheeler, Sr.
Second Team
Ava Filger, Sr.; Avery Walter, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Malin Cole, So.
All-Suburban Conference White Division
First Team
Kendall Johnson, Sr.; Tatianna Murray, Sr.; Karlee Riggs, Sr.
Second Team
Ava Filger, Sr.; Jenna Wheeler, Sr.; Ava Wheeler, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Cierra Poldberg, Sr.; Avery Walter, Sr.
