For the first time since 2022, Platte County doesn’t have a returning all-state attacker on the roster, and that’s the only season without one in nearly a decade. What the Pirates do have coming back includes an established core of experienced players and a growing tradition of excellence that provides reason to believe the newcomers can contributed to continued success.
Platte County enters this fall having reached the Class 4 state semifinals in three of the past four seasons, including a fourth-place finish a year ago when the Pirates finished with a 22-13-1.
“It’s a new year and new team so we can’t expect to have the same success as last year without putting in the work,” said Platte County coach Katlyn Donovan, the architect of a recent run of eight straight seasons with at least 20 wins. “The theme for this year, which is decided by the seniors, is ‘Earned, Not Given.’ I think this class is hungry to get better and continue the success.”
In addition to last year’s memorable postseason run, Platte County finished third in Class 4 to conclude both the 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The two times the Pirates didn’t reach state included 2021 when the Pirates briefly bumped up to Class 5 — the largest in the state of the Missouri and lost the District 8 final in a five-set heartbreaker that prevented a playoff berth.
To earn another district title this season, Platte County might have to do so again in Class 5 depending on the postseason assignments set to be released next week.
Platte County did graduate Karlee Riggs, who finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in kills with 974 while also becoming the first player for the Pirates to become a three-time Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association all-state selection. She posted school records for most kills (430), most points (492) and most good attacks (1,063) in a season as a senior, becoming the obvious focal point for the offense after losing a large senior class from 2023 when a loss to St. Michael the Archangel in the Class 4 quarterfinals ended hopes of earning a second straight state trophy.
However, Platte County does bring back seniors Malin Cole and Emma Macaluso, who were starters in the middle each of the past two seasons. Cole prepares to shift outside after earning All-Class 4 District 8 honors as a junior with 177 kills and 48 blocks. Macaluso now anchors the middle after stepping in to finish out her sophomore campaign as a starter before becoming a fixture a year ago.
Macaluso ended up as an All-Suburban Conference White Division performer and honorable mention all-district pick after finishing a team-high 65 blocks.
In addition, Platte County’s starting lineup should also include three other returning starters — seniors Gia DeRose and Carissa Bacon plus sophomore Miah Omoike. DeRose does give the Pirates a returning all-state performer after a dynamic debut season as starting libero in 2024 when she set new Platte County single-season records for digs (592) and serve receives (758).
DeRose contributed as a sophomore but ended up behind a deep group of seniors on the defensive backline before taking full advantage of opportunity.
Bacon rotated in a two-setter formation and also played on the right side, earning all-district honors with a 458 assists, 214 digs, 114 kills, 43 aces and 33 blocks in a well-rounded first season as a starter for Platte County. Omoike started every match as a freshman with all-conference and all-district accolades going her way after putting up 276 kills, 68 blocks and 64 digs. She will play both on the inside and outside while taking on an even bigger role in the offense.
“We have a lot experience coming back, and hopefully we can continue with the success we have had the past few years but it won’t be given to us,” Donovan said. “I feel like we kind of always have a target on our back and we need to realize that we might be other programs’ biggest matches. We might take our lumps throughout the year, and that is fine. But it will key for us to respond in the right way.”
In addition to Riggs, Platte County also must replace the versatile contributions of Ava Moffitt (180 kills, 348 digs, 515 serve receives and 30 assists) and Sailor Bane (team-high 594 assists, 246 digs and 41 service aces). Both with first-year starters, Bane paired with Bacon at the setter spot for the Pirates.
However, Platte County junior Kate Brunner brings back by far the most experience from the group set to fill pivotal roles. She recorded 24 kills, five digs and two blocks in 25 sets played as a sophomore .
“Kate will be looking to fill in a hitter position for us,” Donovan said. “I feel like she has had a great summer. She is ‘undersized; but doesn’t play that way. She gets over the net and can hit a lot of different shots. She is also very competitive and expects the best out of herself.”
Platte County senior Ashleigh Cruce (32 assists, 22 digs and six service aces), junior Emma Brinkman (three kills) and sophomore Ella Cruce (26 assists, eight digs and four assists) also saw limited time on varsity a year ago. Brinkman should see time in the front row, while Ella Cruce now likely pairs with Bacon at the setter spot.
“Emma is versatile and can play multiple positions in the front row,” Donovan said. “Ella is very athletic and makes great decisions for setting hitters and sending the ball over on the second contact. She is on the smaller side but plays with a ton of heart and is always all over the court.”
Ashleigh Cruce provides versatility, while fellow seniors Evelyn Reith (defensive position) and Kya Bridges (multiple positions) have a shot to compete for playing time.
How the experienced players and newcomers coalesce determines Platte County’s chances to compete for another district title, likely in Class 5 for the second time in program history. The Pirates have reached the playoffs in four of the five seasons since Missouri went to five classes in the fall of 2020. The only exception has been 2021 when Kate Brown made all-state as a senior attacker in Class 5. The next year, the Pirates’ roster included at least three future all-state performers that fueled the strong postseason runs the past two years.
The difficulty might increase, but the program’s pedigree shows in the resolve when facing adversity.
Platte County dropped the opening set in four of the final five postseason matches a year ago but came back to win a Class 4 District 8 semifinal with St. Pius X and state quarterfinal with Notre Dame de Sion, which pushed the Pirates to five sets. The Pirates also went the distance to beat Kearney in the district championship to earn another playoff berth before seeing the inspired run end with a semifinal loss to eventual state champion St. Pius X (Festus) and a four-set defeat against Lutheran (St. Charles) in the third-place match.
