Platte County’s turbulent week includes blowout, power outage, early tournament exit

With the outcome long decided, Gia DeRose earned the opportunity to venture forward and attack the net — a rarity for the all-state libero.

Platte County’s senior defensive standout took advantage and recorded the winning kill to close out Tuesday’s dominant and congruous 25-6, 25-6, 25-6 victory over William Chrisman in Suburban Conference White Division play on Tuesday night. The vacillations in the Pirates’ early schedule have included seemingly equal parts overmatched opponents and top-tier competition.

That makes little moments all the more important for Platte County, coming off three state semifinal appearances in the past five seasons but preparing for a move up to Class 5 for this postseason.

“It’s fun,” said DeRose, who finished with a team-high 12 digs and a service ace in addition to her lone kill. “I got to get a swing at the last one and got a kill.”

Platte County (11-6-2) opened the week with the conference win then suffered a four-set loss on the road against Fort Osage in a match that included a lengthy delay due to a power outage in Independence. The Pirates then closed with Saturday’s trip to the Winnetonka Invitational, going undefeated in pool play but bowing out of bracket play in the first round.

The weekend tournament marked the last of three for Platte County in the first month of the season with the focus now back to conference play and preparing for a more difficult postseason path to the playoffs. The Pirates have won four Class 4 District 8 titles in the recent run of success with the lone exception in the past five years a five-set loss in the Class 5 District 16 title game to Park Hill in 2021.

“The teams that we’re going to see in districts we haven’t even seen since summer,” DeRose said. “So I don’t think (nearing the stretch run) has hit us yet, but it definitely will.”

Against William Chrisman, Platte County again dominated start to finish with senior Malin Cole, moving from the inside to outside hitter, leading the attack. She recorded a team-high 10 kills while senior Carissa Bacon added six and senior Emma Macaluso and junior Emma Brinkman finishing with five apiece. The Pirates coasted through the first set but did trail 2-1 to start the second before senior Evelyn Reith, a first-year starter on the defensive backline put up 18 straight service points. She finished with five of 12 total aces to go with 10 digs.

“It was just about about being consistent, not missing is what’s going to win you (a set),” DeRose said.

Platte County went deep into the rotations for attack with junior Kate Brunner, a key member of the lineup, and sophomore Collins Cole both finishing with three kills. On defense, Bacon (eight) and senior Ashleigh Cruce and sophomore Ella Cruce (six each) were next on the digs list behind DeRose and Reith. The Pirates also continued to use the two-setter rotation to great effect with Ella Cruce totaling a team-high 18 assists and Bacon adding 12.

In addition to Reith’s five aces, Ashleigh Cruce and Platte County junior Charlotte Schlake contributed two apiece. The Pirates have tried different combinations through nearly 20 matches this season with sophomore attacker Miah Omoike continuing to be in and out of the lineup due to a shoulder injury.

Fort Osage 3, Platte County 1

After a lengthy delay to the lack of power at Fort Osage High School, the Indians came back from a disastrous start to earn an 11-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-20 victory Thursday night in Independence.

Platte County dropped to 4-2 in conference play after committing 21 attacking errors and seeing a strong defensive effort go for naught. DeRose tallied 30 digs, while Ashleigh Cruce (13), Ella Cruce (12) and Reith (10). Malin Cole (15) and Brunner (11) led the Pirates in kills, but a pair of absences were notable.

Omoike remained out, while Macaluso missed the game due to illness. Bacon also left in the second set because of an injury.

A third-year starter, Macaluso and Brinkman (three kills and two blocks) have been Platte County’s combination on the inside. The test of depth for the attack continues to put more pressure on the service game, and the Pirates recorded 11 aces in the loss to Fort Osage — four for DeRose and while Malin Cole matched Brinkman with two.

Ella Cruce ended up with a career-high 24 assists.

Winnetonka Invitational

Platte County uniquely didn’t have a loss in the pool portion of Saturday’s tournament at Winnetonka High School but finished 1-0-2 with two-set ties against both Fort Osage and St. Pius X. The Pirates bowed out in the first round of bracket play against Kearney, which recorded a 25-19, 25-23 victory in the afternoon to advance.

In a quickly turned around rematch, Platte County and Fort Osage split the opener 1-1 with both sets requiring extra points. Brunner continued a strong track record of solid play in tournaments with nine kills, while Collins Cole — an ascending reserve — took advantage of additional playing time with five. Malin Cole and Macaluso added four apiece, but the Pirates only ended up one with one service ace.

Ella Cruce recorded 13 assists for Platte County, while DeRose put up 23 digs in just two sets.

Following the first tie, Platte County ended up with the only win of the weekend, sweeping North Kansas City 25-16, 25-13 with Brinkman and Ella Cruce posting two service aces each. Malin Cole led the balanced offense with six kills, while Macaluso and Brunner added four apiece. Ella Cruce (seven) and Bacon (six) provided a nearly even split of assists.

In the pool finale, Platte County needed extra points to take the first set 27-25 but dropped the second to St. Pius X 25-19. Malin Cole (five), Brunner (five) and Macaluso (four) led the offense in kills, while Bacon ended up with two of the Pirates’ four service aces. She added seven assists, matching Ella Cruce for the team-high, while also equaling DeRose with eight digs.

Brunner (eight), Malin Cole (five) and Brinkman (four) accounted for nearly all of Platte County’s attack in the 25-19, 25-23 loss to Kearney, while Ella Cruce led the Pirates in aces (two) and assists (eight). She added eight digs, coming in behind only DeRose (nine).