The girls volleyball team went to state and came back in in fourth; after being projected to not make it past districts they didn’t let those predictions stop them they put up a good fight throughout the whole season and through state.
“I know they had a lot of high expectations put on them just from previous years, [And I think] they lived up to those expectations. I’m just happy for them that they got to experience [state including the underclassmen,” Coach Katlyn Donavan said “I mean, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, some of these girls were able to do it twice, so I’m just proud of the outcome that we had. It wasn’t the outcome we wanted with the final four, but still a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
In the first game against the St. Pius X (Festus) Lancers the Pirates had some close sets each time in the first game but ultimately lost in the end with a score of 0-3 (18-25, 25-27, 22-25) then in the second game lost again against Lutheran St. Charles 1-3 leaving them in fourth place
“The first game was definitely really close and they were a really good team. It was a really fun game. We were really close and so it was very hype and everybody was getting so excited, I feel like we were all just really fighting for every point in that game,” Senior Rylee Pickett said.
This is the third time Platte County has ever gone to state. They first went to state in 2020 and then again in 2022 placing third both times and this year they took fourth. While still a high accomplishment, for Platte County some people thought it was unfair because, private schools are often considered to be put in an advantageous spot for competitions as they can recruit top players strengthening their chance of success; Platte County was one of two public schools in the final four making that accomplishment even greater because at times it can seem impossible to beat a private school. Even though they didn’t make it all the way to 1st in the end these Pirates thought they had a good performance overall.
“ I think our defense and serve receive was phenomenal,best I’ve ever seen. During state our back-row stepped up our game with big all-state hitters. Putting a little more pressure on our front-row. Other than that our play at state was fine overall,” junior Gia DeRose said.
These girls also wanted to give a huge shoutout to their coaches during state and throughout the season for everything they’ve done for them and with them being exactly what they needed from the beginning.
“The coaching style honestly was great, it was just what we needed. Donovan would get us out of our heads whenever we needed it. She would snap us right back into place, they’re also super, encouraging when it was needed. Because volleyball is a super mental game and when somebody’s in their head and needs [to be] brought out of it, it’s like you just need the right words to hear and honestly I feel like they did that perfectly,” junior Emma Macaluso said.
During all the playing at state there were a few highlights these girls took away from the court that they know they’ll remember for a long time.
“My state highlight would probably have to be, the pregame stuff doing our chants in the locker room and, talking to these girls beforehand, just some of the non volleyball things. That was definitely the highlight. I love those girls and I love spending time with them,” senior Karlee Riggs said.
There was also a lot of off court highlights that were able to happen because these girls have had just an incredible time together throughout this trip.
“When we all were deciding what color to dye our hair, and we all chose purple , it was just something fun to do. But in the locker room at state, Ashleigh brought some spray and she sprayed her whole head on top of braids. And it was stained. It was even on her forehead.” Macaluso said “It was just great, it was honestly just a funny thing to see.”
Some people had said that the team wouldn’t even make it past districts but this team even though they may have been discouraged at times, never let that stop them from making it all the way to state.
“Every article I read that had the words rebuilding in the same sentence as last years eight seniors made me grow incredibly frustrated because they were irrelevant to the season,” senior Ava Moffit said “Yes, we had to make a new rotation. Yes, we lost eight seniors. However, us five seniors made it to state and they didn’t.”
It being the last season for these seniors they are saddened about leaving but these seniors have some big plans for their after high school careers.
“I am going to play at Carroll University. It’s in Waukesha, Wisconsin, just outside of Milwaukee. It’s a D3 school, and I am gonna be there as a pin hitter, [I’ll] have to fight for some playing time, but I’m super excited about it,” Riggs said.
After this adventure at state players Riggs and DeRose have won the title of all state players out of only 31 girls in the state DeRose and Riggs have done an outstanding job being able to earn this title.
“I wasn’t gonna expect it or anything because it’s a limited spot, so I was trying to be chill about it. But when I saw I got it, I definitely was super, super excited,” DeRose said.
These pirates had a very inspiring yet trying season where they have been able to grow as teammates and as friends and they also have a shoutout to give to Pickett and Riggs for being such an absolute encouragement and inspiration throughout the season.
“Rylee Pickett was super encouraging just all the time. I really noticed how she was just always so happy even when we were down she just really brought us right back up. And even in the huddle, she would say some super nice things even if all of us were in our heads or something, she would just uplift us all the time,” Macaluso said.
