Platte County volleyball reels off win streak; South closes in on Red Division title

Platte County’s winning streak hit four Tuesday, Sept. 29 with the Pirates topping Winnetonka in three sets for the second time this season. The Suburban Conference Blue Division win improved Platte County’s league mark to 6-1 with the lone loss to Kearney. The rematch with the Bulldogs looms on Thursday, Oct. 8 with Platte County hoping to make a bid for a repeat conference title.

Against Winnetonka, Platte County fell behind 11-8 and trailed for much of the third deciding set. Mikayla Wheeler’s two service points finally forged a tie at 24 — the first since being even at 8-8. However, Winnetonka earned a match point opportunity.

Kenedy Knox responded with a kill to tie the score and then another to give Platte County a chance to win. Alex Huntley ended up serving the final two points of a 25-14, 22-25, 27-25 victory.

Knox finished with 15 kills and 10 assists, while Madysen Fine provided 17 assists to go with seven kills. In addition to the late service points, Huntley recorded four ace blocks. Kailyn Saxer-Taulbee (three aces), Bailey Harris (two aces) and Fine (two aces) ended up with nine service points apiece.

Platte County dropped to 13-9-1 with a loss in straight sets at Lee’s Summit North on Monday, Oct. 5 in Lee’s Summit, Mo. The defeat ended the four-game winning streak heading into three straight against Blue Division foes to close the regular season, starting with Kearney.

Park Hill South 2, St. Joseph Central 0 The Panthers remained unbeaten in Suburban Conference Red Division play Thursday, Oct. 1 in St. Joseph, Mo., just five days ahead of a rematch with Park Hill. The result of the Tuesday, Oct. 6 rivalry matchup was not available at The Citizen’s deadline.

Park Hill South (18-3-1) won its seventh straight against Central behind Andi Elley (10 kills), Annika Welty (eight kills) and Bri Bartosh (six kills). Elley also added a team-high 12 digs, while Bartosh finished with nine to lead the defense.

Park Hill swept Ruskin on Thursday, Sept. 28 to improve to 3-4 in Red Division play entering the rivalry matchup. Park Hill South beat the Trojans in the first meeting.

Park Hill South 2, Ruskin 0

Elley led a dominant sweep with 10 kills Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo. The Panthers finished with 16 aces, including 12 for Bartosh.