The West Platte volleyball team huddles after a point is scored in the Class 2 District 15 Championship at East Buchanan High School in the Lady Blue Jays 3-0 loss to the Lady Bulldogs on Oct. 25.
In what seemed like déjà vu from a season ago, the West Platte volleyball team (15-12-4) fell to East Buchanan (31-5-1) at their home court 3-0 in the Class 2 District 16 Championship on Oct. 25.
It was almost the exact same scenario as the Lady Blue Jays’ last match of 2021 when the Lady Bulldogs came out with a sweep in the Class 2 District 15 Championship at East Buchanan High School. In the district title rematch, West Platte was coming off a huge four-set, upset victory over top-seeded Bishop LeBlond (24-8-2) in the semifinals.
With a chance to get revenge from last fall, the Lady Blue Jays had to play in a tough environment and let the pivotal first set slip away. The set was tight from start to finish and East Buchanan pulled out a 25-23 win to go up 1-0.
In set two, the Lady Bulldogs went up 14-11 before outscoring the Lady Blue Jays 11 to three the rest of the way to take set two, 25-14. West Platte fell behind early in the third set and ultimately came up short to lose the match in three sets.
Libby Vandel stuffed the stat sheet as the senior had 11 kills, 11 digs, two blocks and one ace in the match. Maddison McMillan dished out 24 assists along with 11 digs, while Klaira Groom ended with two blocks.
West Platte had an experienced and talented senior class of six: Ahlanna Rutherford, Arianna Nower, Lauren Finke, Avery Holmes, McMillan and Vandel. The Lady Blue Jays had success in multiple tournaments throughout the fall, finishing in fourth place in the KCI Tournament and the Midway Tournament, while taking second place in the Sherwood Tournament.