The North Platte volleyball team’s season has ended with a 3-0 sweep by Kansas City Lutheran in the opening round of the Class 1 District 15 Tournament at Plattsburg High School on Oct. 21.
Trinity Whitford is one of three North Platte seniors.
The opening set was the most competitive of the match with 16 ties and 17 lead changes. There was no room for the district opponents to breathe in the set as neither team led by more than two points.
The Panthers and Knights were in a battle when there were seven straight ties from 3-3 to 10-10 and six more ties until Kansas City Lutheran took a late 20-18 lead. The Panthers knotted the score two more times but were unable to win the set as they fell 25-23.
“We improved this week and looked much better than we have in the last few matches,” North Platte head coach Doug Lee said. “Overall, the match was a better match for us, and I am proud of the girls for the effort that they put in.”
Losing in the opening set took away all North Platte’s momentum as the Panthers never mentally recovered, coming up short each of the next two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-14. North Platte ended the season on a five-match losing streak and a 4-23 record.
“I think if we had won that first set, it would have given us a better energy for the rest of the match. We came up just a tad short, and that wears on you when you don’t win a lot of sets throughout the season,” Lee said.
The Panthers have three seniors that they relied on all season – Trinity Whitford, Siera Melton and Tara Owens. Whitford and Owens were the only returning starters from last fall’s team, while Melton stepped up in her senior campaign.
“I feel bad for them because we felt that we could advance to the next round today, and they put in such a great effort in the last few years. They did everything that we have ever asked of them, but hopefully they come out with a positive attitude of playing volleyball at North Platte,” Lee said.
Melton finished the match with aces, Whitford added 17 digs and Bailey Richardson had 15 assists. Katelyn Morelock, Kinsey Niedfeldt and Owens all finished with 2 blocks each.