By Dennis Sharkey

For the fourth time in five years, the Platte County girls’ volleyball team is district champions and headed to the quarterfinals this Saturday at home.

Platte County senior Karlee Riggs holds up the Class 4 District 8 trophy for her teammates and student section at Kearney on Monday night. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo

The Pirates beat No. 1 seed Kearney in five sets to win the Class 4 District 8 championship on Monday night, Oct. 28, on Kearney’s home court. It was the first time this season the Pirates had won a five-set match. Coming into Monday’s game, Platte County was 0-3 in games that went five sets.

“All year long, we have not won a fifth set. We have lost every single one of them,” Platte County Head Coach Katlyn Donovan told the Citizen right after the match while still trying to catch her breath. “I told them how proud of them of the adversity they’ve had all year long and to come back and win a fifth set game.”

Head Coach Katlyn Donovan, left and the rest of the coaching staff celebrated during a point at the district championship. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo

The Pirates came out on fire, winning the first set easily 25-12 in shades of a previous meeting between the two teams three weeks earlier on the same court where Platte County won 3-0.

Kearney played much better in the second set, not wanting to go down 2-0, and both teams battled back and forth for most of the set. After two long volleys that were won by the Pirates, momentum seemed to be on the side of Platte County, but Kearney mustered a 6-0 run to win the second set.

The momentum continued for Kearney into the third set, winning the first four points and calling for a timeout from the Pirates bench. The Pirates fought back and took a 10-9 lead on an ace from Giavanna Derose. Kearney would regain the lead, but the Pirates battled enough at the end of the set to come away with a 25-20 win to take a 2-1 lead. Then things fell apart.

In the fourth set, Kearney dominated at the net, and multiple times, Platte County’s backline had no answers. It was hard to watch if you were a Pirates fan. Donovan said it was weird to watch from the sidelines. Kearney won the set 25-9.

“I don’t know what happened,” Donovan said. “Kearney got the momentum on their side and kept rolling with it. We kind of just dug ourselves into a hole, but I’m so proud of how we battled back in that fifth set. A lot of teams could have given up and called it good. The leadership from our seniors and the girls that play on the court was phenomenal.”

The Pirates won the fifth set 15-11 to advance to Saturday’s match to go to the Final Four. Donovan said her team was motivated three weeks ago when the Pirates won 3-0, but Kearney made adjustments.

Head Coach Katlyn Donovan, right, celebrates with her players on the court after winning the district championship. DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo

“Kearney is a good team, and they got the No. 1 seed for a reason,” Donovan said. Kearney was really prepared, and they did some good things against us. They adjusted their defense against us, and it took us a little while to get to those adjustments.”

Donovan also credited the student section and fans who traveled to the match and wanted to see that turned up on Saturday.