North Platte picked up a little momentum heading into its regular season finale with a 1-2 showing this past weekend in the Riverside (Kan.) Tournament held in Elwood, Kan.
The pool play featured three best-of-three matchups with the Panthers, who lost in three sets to Troy (Kan.) and in a sweep vs. Jefferson County North (Kan.). They came back to win the finale in straight sets against St. Joseph Christian.
Against Troy, North Platte won the second set but ended up with a 19-25, 25-20, 15-25 loss after fading in the third set. The Panthers went to three sets for the fifth time this year, which includes just one of their four wins.
McKenzie Brockhoff led North Platte with 10 kills and 11 digs, while Katie Sanders had two blocks. Lauren Payne provided 18 assists.
In the 25-18, 25-19 loss to Jefferson County North, Kelsey Reynolds topped North Platte’s offense with seven kills, while Brockhoff had nine digs and three blocks. Brockhoff put up 13 kills, while Payne had 21 assists in the 25-19, 25-21 win against St. Joseph Christian, the Panthers’ second sweep of the Lions this season.
North Platte (4-23-1) hosted West Platte in the KCI Conference finale for both teams on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at North Platte High School in Dearborn, Mo. West Platte won the second matchup this year between the rivals in straight sets, dropping the Panthers to 1-6 in league play.
Next up for North Platte would be a Class 2 District 16 first-round matchup with Bishop LeBlond on Monday, Oct. 17 at Lawson High School in Lawson, Mo. North Platte moved up from Class 1 this season.
West Platte 2, Lawson 0
The Bluejays avoided a third set with a huge comeback Thursday, Oct. 6 in Lawson, Mo.
Improving to 5-1 in KCI play, West Platte fought back from a 21-10 deficit in the second set to complete the sweep. Faith Stevens, Daire Stelljes and Nealie Niemeier each provided a run in service, combining for all seven of the Bluejays’ aces in the match.
“I have never experienced a game the way that we played that last one,” West Platte coach Amber Guthrie said. “I am extremely proud of the heart that the girls showed.”
Niemeier also led the attack with six kills, while Ciara Davies added five kills and five blocks.
West Platte (15-11-1) picked up the No. 4 seed in Class 1 District 15 Tournament, drawing Wellington-Napoleon in the opening round. The matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18 in Lone Jack, Mo. with the winner advancing to face undefeated top seed Northland Christian.
West Platte finished 6-1 in KCI play, second behind Mid-Buchanan.
West Platte 2, Hamilton 0
In the final home match of the season, the Bluejays were dominant in both sets Tuesday, Oct. 4 in Weston, Mo.
Jordan Schultz shined with 12 kills in a 25-8, 25-16 blowout, while Karen Knox accounted for 10 of West Platte’s 16 service aces. Megan Kottman added five more.
Plattsburg 2, North Platte 0
The Panthers dropped to 1-5 in KCI play with a loss Thursday, Oct. 6 in Plattsburg, Mo.
Reynolds ended up with 10 digs in what turned into a 25-20, 25-16 loss. Brockhoff led the offense with six assists, and Payne totaled eight assists.
Mid-Buchanan 2, North Platte 0
Brockhoff put up seven kills and six digs in a loss Tuesday, Oct. 4 at North Platte High School in Dearborn, Mo. Payne had nine assists and one block, while Katie Sanders also recorded a block.