Platte County didn’t enjoy the normal success in the annual Winnetonka Invitational. The Pirates went 1-0-2 in pool play and then bowed out of the championship bracket with a loss to St. Pius X.
Results have been uneven for Platte County (11-6-2) over recent weeks with a busy schedule including two tournaments with strong fields. While still unbeaten in Suburban Conference White Division play, the Pirates also have a loss to likely Class 4 District 7 favorite St. Michael the Archangel in a rematch of a 2022 playoff matchup, a 2-3 showing in the Lansing Invitational and now an early exit at Winnetonka.
However, Platte County played without seniors Ava Wheeler and Jenna Wheeler, who were unavailable due to a family commitment, and then lost senior middle blocker Ciera Poldberg to an injury during the tournament and could miss significant time.
The loss to St. Pius X likely affects Class 4 District 8 seeding. Platte County advanced out of the field last year then beat St. Michael on the way to finishing third in state for the second time in three seasons. However, the Warriors might have a track to the No. 1 seed after a 25-17, 25-16 sweep in bracket play at Winnetonka.
Platte County managed only 12 kills, a team-high four for senior Tatianna Murray, and senior Ava Filger and sophomores Carissa Bacon and Malin Cole had one service ace apiece. The Pirates’ defense showed some flashes with five total blocks — a team-high three assisted from Murray — while piling up 31 digs, a team-high nine from Walter. Poldberg missed the match due an injury earlier in the day.
In pool play, Platte County’s lone win came in a 25-18, 25-16 effort against Fort Osage with senior outside hitter Kendall Johnson with seven kills. However, Poldberg went down with an injury during the second set, upping the difficulty for the resulting bracket play matchup.
With Ava Wheeler out, Platte County went to a 6-2 formation with sophomore Carissa Bacon and junior Sailor Bane sharing setter duties in a difficult spot. Bacon totaled 29 assists and Bane 20 across eight sets of action.
The best performance for the duo came in a split with Raymore-Peculiar. Bacon dished out a career-high 11 assists and Bane, a transfer from Park Hill, eight with Platte County coming back to earn a tie with a 25-21 victory in the second set. Walter (eight), Filger (six) and Bacon (six) led the Pirates in digs, while junior Karlee Riggs topped the attack with nine kills.
Against Park Hill, Platte County went the opposite direction, managing a 27-25 victory in the first set but the losing 25-15 to end up with another tie. The Pirates’ managed only 16 kills with four apiece from Johnson and Riggs, while Walter piled up 10 digs.
Platte County 3, Belton 0
Ahead of the weekend tournament, Platte County finished the first set of Suburban Conference White Division matchups with a sweep Thursday at Platte County High School.
Johnson (11) and Riggs (eight), Platte County’s returning all-state attackers, led the way, combining for 19 kills, but Murray and Poldberg added seven apiece. Poldberg also provided a team-high four block assists. Perhaps most importantly, Jenna Wheeler totaled seven service aces out of a total of 15. Walter added three and fellow senior Kenadi Brown two for the Pirates.
The defense for Platte County continued to come from a multitude of players with Johnson and Ava Wheeler finishing with nine digs apiece, while Walter and Jenna Wheeler were next with eight each.
Platte County currently sits at 4-0 in White Division play ahead of a five-match stretch of nonconference matchups.
Platte County 3, William Chrisman 0
The Pirates were dominant start to finish in a 25-5, 25-6, 25-9 sweep Tuesday in Independence.
Going deep into the lineup, Platte County recorded 40 total kills with Murray leading the way at 11, while Poldberg added eight and Johnson and Riggs seven apiece. The Pirates also put up 15 service aces, and Walter and Jenna Wheeler led the way with four apiece.
Platte County’s defense produced 51 digs in limiting William Chrisman’s attack success. Jenna Wheeler and Ava Wheeler led the way with 10 apiece, while Ava Wheeler also recorded 26 assists.
