Platte County ready to remain resilient in difficult district assignment

When the lights stayed on, Platte County looked completely different while avenging a previous loss in Suburban Conference White Division play. The Pirates fought off a set point in the first on the way to a 26-24, 25-13, 25-15 sweep of Fort Osage on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse in likely the final home match for the seven-member senior class.

In the first meeting between the two teams, a power outage at Fort Osage High School forced a delay of more than an hour, and Platte County dominated the first set before ultimately losing in four. The teams also tied 1-1 a few days later in a pool play match at the North Kansas City Invitational.

“I think we were all just more on tonight,” said Platte County senior Malin Cole, who recorded team-highs of 14 kills and three service aces to go with 11 digs in Tuesday’s win over Fort Osage. “I think with the power outage and everything, obviously not an excuse but we definitely weren’t mentally prepared coming into that game.”

The result ran a win streak to a season-best four for Platte County (18-10-2), which then dropped Thursday’s regular season finale in four sets at Grain Galley.

Platte County now goes into the Class 5 District 8 tournament needing two more wins to reach 20 for a ninth straight season. The Pirates have the No. 6 seed while facing a move up after a recent run of postseason success in Class 4 and play No. 3 seed Liberty North (14-15) in Thursday’s first round matchup.

Continuing to show resiliency needed to navigate an uneven season, Platte County evened this year’s series with Fort Osage behind Cole and fellow seniors Carissa Bacon (team-high 15 assists, 11 kills and digs) and Emma Macaluso (five kills and three blocks).

Fort Osage started strong and led 8-5 before Cole’s strongest service run helped produce five unanswered points. Platte County trailed again in the first set but led by as much as three in addition to ties at 15-15 and 16-16.

“I think it’s somewhat good to have ups and downs sometimes because you kind of find your balance through the up and down,” Cole said. “Something we kind of say before every game is don’t be up and down; just be at our constant best level we can be at, even with the ups and downs.”

Fort Osage took a timeout down 19-17 after the second of two tip kills in the first set for Bacon, who serves as a setter in Platte County’s 6-2 formation in addition to playing the front row. Yet, the Pirates needed to survive set point at 24-23 and did so to start a closing run of three straight points.

Up a set, Platte County junior Kate Brunner started the second with one of her five kills, and the Pirates raced to a dominant 8-2 lead.

“We get ourselves in that situation a lot,” Cole said. “I think we start up sometimes, start down, and then we kind of go and lose it almost, so I think it was good for us to pull through at the end (of the first set) and realize we don’t have to dig down so much (to come back).

“I feel like when we have a lead, especially in sets, it definitely helps build more confidence in us.”

Platte County didn’t blink from there with junior Emma Brinkman also adding five kills as part of a deep rotation of attackers. Charlotte Schlake, a sophomore playing in the middle alongside Macaluso and Brinkman, provided the final two points of the match with kills, finishing with four total.

Macaluso has started the majority of the past three seasons with Cole as the most experienced of Platte County’s seniors. However, Cole moved from the middle to outside as the new focal point of the offense after the graduation of Karlee Riggs, a three-time all-state performer. Her role became even more important with sophomore Miah Omoike, an expected starter up front, missing the majority of the season due to a lingering shoulder injury.

“Definitely, it’s a way bigger role on the court which I do take on and I don’t take it lightly,” Cole said. “I definitely do feel the pressure sometime, but it’s good to be uncomfortable because you can learn to push past it. I definitely feel like I’ve learned that.”

A challenging schedule and roster adaption due to attrition have limited long unbeaten runs, but Platte County brings proven program pedigree after making the Class 4 playoffs in four of the past five seasons, including state placements in 2020 (third), 2022 (third) and 2024 (fourth). The lone exception in the current run came when the Pirates moved up to Class 5 in 2021 and finished 24-10 after a five-set loss to Park Hill in the district title game.

In addition to changes up front, Platte County’s lone returner from last year’s defensive back line Gia DeRose continues to play a pivotal role. The senior returning all-state libero posted 11 digs against Fort Osage, while seniors Evelyn Reith (12 digs) and Ashleigh Cruce (four) have taken on important roles, while sophomore Ella Cruce (14 assists) teams with Bacon in the two-setter rotation.

“We know we can play and compete with those teams, even in a higher class,” Cole said. “We know we can do it, so that’s definitely the mindset we’re trying to have.”

Grain Valley 3, Platte County 1

The Eagles were able to take the first two very competitive sets and then hold on for a 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 25-20 victory Thursday in Grain Valley.

Platte County couldn’t match the efficiency in attack, although Brunner (12 kills), Bacon (nine kills), Macaluso (seven kills) and Cole (seven kills) turned in strong performances. Cole added two of the Pirates’ four service aces, while DeRose led the way with 21 digs, while Reith added 13.

Grain Valley pulled the season sweep in the series. Platte County ended up with 9-5 record in conference play, also losing twice to Belton in addition to the split with Fort Osage.