With five consecutive seasons with 20-plus wins, the Platte County volleyball team is looking to extend that streak this season.
Karsyn Stehlik is going to be the leading piece as the incoming senior has been a starting right hit setter for the Lady Pirates since her sophomore year. She will have the most experience coming into this year and Platte County will look to her along with senior outside and middle hitter Kendall Johnson, who started last season.
“We bring back a good core of athletes, as well as other ones ready to step into a starting role for us,” Platte County head volleyball coach Katlyn Donovan said. “I think we’ll have a good mix of experience and individuals working towards gaining experience on the floor for this year.”
Platte County’s Karsyn Stehlik will be in the starting lineup this year.
Madison Haugsven and Mackenzie Ryerson are the other two seniors, both of whom will be competing for spots in the rotation. The Lady Pirates will have two non-senior starters coming back: Tatianna Murray and Ava Wheeler.
“Tatianna was a starting middle for us last year, she’s quick and has a heavy arm swing. Ava was a defensive specialist for us last year, but we are looking for her to fill our libero position; she has really owned being a vocal leader for us,” Donovan said.
Madison Hoyt will be taking over the middle position and Karsyn Stehlik will be playing the right side for Platte County this year. Coach Donovan told the Platte County Citizen that Jenna Wheeler, Emma Harned and Karlee Riggs are other athletes who will be competing for spots on the court.
“We have worked hard this summer on finding the right mix of individuals to give us the best possible chance to succeed in games. I feel like this year we are kind of searching for our identity; we lost some key contributors to our past success, and we need people to step into some big roles for us,” Donovan said.
The Lady Pirates finished with a 24-10 record in 2021, rattling off 10-consecutive wins at one point. The season prior, Platte County made its deepest postseason run in program history en route to finishing in third place in all of Class 4.
“Some goals for us going into the pre-season will be to compete every day in practice, win the energy battle and have fun. I think we need to focus our attention on the little things and not worry about getting so many wins a season, or a conference title. We need to focus on one day at a time, one practice at a time, one game at a time; if we can do that, we will have the success we want at the end of the season,” Donovan said.