The Park Hill (3-3) and Park Hill South (2-3) volleyball teams competed in a triangular against Blue Springs (3-2) and Blue Springs South (2-1) on September 10.
While the Lady Trojans and Lady Panthers didn’t play each other, they both played against the Lady Jaguars and the Lady Wildcats. In an attempt to save trips for both Park Hill and Park Hill South, they invited Blue Springs and Blue Springs South up to play on the same court with two courts being set up in the Park Hill gym.
The Park Hills split with the Blue Springs as the day started with the Lady Trojans taking on the Lady Wildcats and the Lady Panthers taking on the Lady Jaguars simultaneously. Park Hill defeated Blue Springs in three sets, while Park Hill South lost to Blue Springs South in three sets.
The Lady Trojans dropped the opening set 25-17 before winning the last two 25-11 and 25-17. Park Hill senior Shaye Koski finished the match with 19 kills, 14 digs and three blocks.
The Lady Trojans didn’t have as much success in the ensuing match, being swept by the Lady Jaguars. Blue Springs South won the opening set 25-18 and it pulled out set two 25-21, despite Emily Watson’s eight digs and 18 receptions.
For Park Hill South, it came out on top in two sets in the opening match against Blue Springs South, winning by scores of 25-17 and 25-21. Emma Kimbrel dished out 13 assists and Camryn Ludtke added nine assists, while Sydni Lafasciano had nine kills.
The Park Hill girls’ volleyball team celebrates after winning a point against Blue Springs on Sept. 10.
The Lady Panthers came up short 2-1 in their match against the Lady Wildcats pulling out set two 27-25 but being defeated 25-19 in set one and 25-15 in set three. Isabel Day and Caroline Wengler had 12 kills, while Day added 12 digs.
This was the second time so far that the rival Park Hill schools played at the same place as the Lady Trojans defeated the Lady Panthers with a sweep on September 6. All three sets went down to the wire, with the road team pulling out all three.
Park Hill South surpassed 20 points in every set but was unable to reach 25 points in any set. Park Hill won the opening set 25-23 before taking set two 25-21 and winning the match with a 25-22 win in the final set.
Koski led the match with 18 kills as Emily Pella dished out 14 assists and Reganne Reed had 12 assists. Park Hill South senior Ludtke led the team with 20 assists and Day added 14 digs and eight kills.
Park Hill South won its season opener against Lee’s Summit North (1-3) in five sets before losing to Lansing 3-1 and Park Hill 3-0. The Lady Trojans had a tough opponent to start the fall when Lee’s Summit (6-1-1) defeated the road team in four sets, but Park Hill bounced back with two straight victories over Staley (1-4) and Park Hill South.
Park Hill lost a tough Silver Division match when Liberty pulled out a five-set victory on September 8. The Lady Trojans will host Kearney (3-1-3) and the Lady Panthers will head to Liberty on September 13.