Another deep postseason run resulted in Karlee Riggs becoming the first three-time Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association (MHSVCA) all-state selection in Platte County history, while Gia DeRose made a first appearance after both turned in record-setting seasons. The Pirates reached the Class 4 state semifinals for the third time in five years and continued an overall run of consistent success now spanning nearly a decade.
A three-year starter, Riggs finishes as Platte County’s all-time leader in kills with 974, now ranking in front of Kate Brown (893), Aly Anderson (811) and Kendall Johnson (806). Brown, Johnson and Bryn McGhee were the only other two-time MHSVCA all-state selections for the Pirates in addition to Riggs, who posted school records for most kills (430), most points (492) and most good attacks (1,063) in a season as a senior.
Riggs became the focal point of Platte County’s offense in wake of graduating eight seniors from the 2023, which ended with a loss in the Class 4 quarterfinals to St. Michael the Archangel. Her total of 492 points passed Brown’s mark of 408 from 2021 and the 430 kills were nearly 100 more than the 336 Brown produced that same year.
A contributor as a sophomore, DeRose stepped into Platte County’s starting libero spot this season and inherited a heavy workload. The Pirates graduated the entirety of a deep back row group from last year’s state quarterfinalist.
DeRose set new Platte County single-season records for digs (592) and serve receives (758). Carli Hensley previously held the mark for digs with 522 in 2018, while Teryn Scott’s total of 530 serve receives set the prior standard for the Pirates back in 2012.
Platte County’s five-player senior class that also included starters Ava Moffitt and Sailor Bane were part of three district titles and two state runs. The Pirates placed third in Class 4 back in 2022, matching the 2020 team for the best finish in program history, and added a fourth-place trophy this fall with an inspired run down the stretch.
Now with eight straight seasons of at least 20 wins, Platte County dropped the opening set in four of the final five postseason matches 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.
After beating Notre Dame de Sion, Platte County lost a state semifinal to eventual Class 4 champion St. Pius X (Festus) and then dropped the third-place match in three sets to Lutheran St. Charles. All three of the top-four state finishes in program history have come since 2020, and the only season in the past five years without a playoff trip came in 2021 when the Pirates briefly bumped to Class 5 in 2021 and lost to Park Hill in the District 8 final.
MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 4 ALL-STATE
Karlee Riggs, Sr.; Gia DeRose, Jr.
ALL-CLASS 4 DISTRICT 8
First team
Sailor Bane, Sr.; Ava Moffitt, Sr.; Karlee Riggs, Sr.; Gia DeRose, Jr.; Miah Omoike, Fr.
Second team
Malin Cole, Jr.; Carissa Bacon, Jr.
Honorable Mention
Emma Macaluso, Jr.
ALL-SUBURBAN CONFERENCE WHITE DIVISION
First team
Karlee Riggs, Sr.
Second team
Miah Omoike, Fr.
Honorable mention
Ava Moffitt, Sr.; Gia DeRose, Jr.
