Platte County closed the week in expectedly dominant fashion with a 25-7, 25-10, 25-8 sweep of Ruskin on Thursday at Pirate Fieldhouse. The Pirates have now won five straight in Suburban Conference White Division play and improved to 6-2 overall and now trails only Belton, which currently owns a 20-1-1 record, in the league standings.
Platte County junior Kate Brunner hits a spike against Ruskin on Thursday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Against Ruskin, Platte County (13-8-1) went deep into the roster with senior all-state outside hitter Karlee Riggs leading the attack with 13 kills, while junior Emma Macaluso (eight) and sophomore Kate Brunner (seven) took advantage of additional opportunities at the net in the blowout. The Pirates also received six kills apiece from junior Malin Cole and freshman Miah Omoike and four from junior Carissa Bacon, who also totaled 14 assists as part of a two-setter formation.
Platte County senior Sailor Bane led the way with 18 assists, while junior liber Gia Derose continued a standout defensive season with 19 digs. The Pirates were also strong in service with junior Ashleigh Cruce totaling five of 12 aces, while Bacon (two), senior Rylee Pickett (two), Bane (one), Riggs (one) and Derose (one) also contributed.
Platte County 3, Grain Valley 1
The Pirates snapped a quick two-game skid with an important 25-18, 25-27, 25-22, 26-24 victory in a tight White Division matchup Tuesday in Grain Valley.
In a back-and-forth match, Platte County committed just one service error with DeRose putting up three aces, while seniors Ava Moffitt and Bane added two apiece. Moffitt totaled 15 service points to go with six kills, while Riggs (20 kills) and Omoike (11 kills) were again the top duo in attack.
Platte County senior Karlee Riggs hits a spike against Ruskin on Thursday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Cole matched Moffitt with three kills, and Omoike added a team-high five blocks.
Key to the win, Platte county forced long rallies with Derose leading the way with 25 kills, and Bane (18), Riggs (16), Moffitt (16) and Bacon (10 also finished in double figures. Bane (19 assists) and Bacon (15 assists) committed just one error apiece in an efficient setting performance.
Platte County came back from the second set loss to eke out the win in four sets and ultimately remained in the hunt for the White Division title, although the Pirates will need to beat Belton and get some help. Grain Valley came back later in the week to beat Truman that knocked the Patriots into a second-place tie.
St. Michael the Archangel 3, Platte County 1
The Guardians prevailed Monday in Lee’s Summit in a rematch of a Class 4 quarterfinal from a year ago.
Platte County junior Malin Cole goes up for a block against Ruskin on Thursday night at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County dropped the first two sets and started a potential comeback that came up short in a 25-22, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23 loss. The Pirates kept a tight lineup with Riggs leading the attack at 17 kills, while Cole finished in double figures for the first time in her career and totaled 14. Moffitt (seven), Omoike (six), Macaluso (four) and Bacon (three) rounded out the leaders in that category.
Bacon totaled 26 assists, while Bane added 16.
Platte County’s defense featured seven blocks with Omoike and Cole contributing four assists apiece, while Derose led four players in double figures for digs with 21. Bacon added 17, Riggs 12, Bane 10 and Moffitt eight for the Pirates.
A year ago, St. Michael won both meetings between the two teams, including the playoff matchup that kept Platte County from a second straight state semifinal appearance and a potential third in four years.
