Park Hill’s Emerson Sweet (#23) goes up for a spike in the Lady Trojans’ 3-0 win over Park Hill South on Oct. 5.
PARKVILLE – In the second volleyball match of the season between the rivals, Park Hill (9-11-2) swept Park Hill South (6-14) on Oct. 5.
This was the second straight season that Park Hill South lost 3-0 to Park Hill at home as this is a common matchup with the squads having met five total times in the last three years. The Lady Panthers won in five sets back on Sept. 5.
The match was competitive with four ties and four lead changes in the first 10 points of set one. Park Hill South led 4-2, but Park Hill scored the next three points and never gave up the lead again despite there being four more ties.
Being knotted at 14, Park Hill scored two straight points and then senior libero Emily Watson served the ball out-of-bounds. Parker Kimball followed that with a kill, then Park Hill South’s Sydni Lafasciano and Brooklynn Verdi blocked a ball on the next play; Lafasciano was injured on the play but eventually returned.
The Lady Trojans extended the margin to 20-16, but the set was eventually tied at 22. Park Hill closed the set out with the final three points, capped off with senior Emily Jones faking a pass to Boston Wand, hitting it over the net and the ball hit the floor.
The second set was just as competitive with Park Hill pulling out a 26-24 victory. The third set was tied at nine, but the Lady Trojans pulled out the set 25-13 capped off with Jones setting up Addyson Staples for the match-winning kill.
There will be one more regular season match ahead of the Class 5 District 8 Tournament. Park Hill South will host Lee’s Summit North (9-14) and Park Hill will host Lee’s Summit (7-11) on Oct. 12.
Park Hill will be the No. 4 seed and Park Hill South will be the No. 5 seed as the rivals will meet again in the first round of districts on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. The match will be at Park Hill High School in the first postseason matchup between the rivals since 2019 when the Lady Panthers won in a sweep.