Winnetonka Invitational Recap
The spectator free Winnetonka Invite took place this past Saturday with ten teams, down from the original twelve. Liberty North, who is undefeated on the early season dropped out along with Fort Osage. The three pools of four teams switched…
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Continue ReadingThe spectator free Winnetonka Invite took place this past Saturday with ten teams, down from the original twelve. Liberty North, who is undefeated on the early season dropped out along with Fort Osage. The three pools of four teams switched to two pools of five. Looking at the pools it appeared Park Hill and Platte County would run away with their respective pools. Park Hill showed they were the top team in pool 1 finishing pool play 8-0 in sets. They received strong play from Kristen Birmingham Kristen Birmingham 6'1" | OH Park Hill | 2021 State MO , Shaye Koski, and Aile Aiona on the pins. Platte County had to scratch and survive in pool play after splitting matches with North Kansas City and Truman. They would finish 6-2, with Truman right behind them at 5-3.
Park Hill and Platte County would receive byes in the championship bracket play as they awaited the winners of the quarterfinal match-ups. Central and Ray-Pec battled to take on Park Hill, with the Panthers prevailing. In the other match up, Grain Valley would take out Truman to face Platte County. Park Hill and Ray-Pec, two conference foes played for the first time this season. The Trojans would sweep 25-14, 25-23. Platte County would take care of business over Grain Valley one court over. The championship game was a much-anticipated rematch of the first games of the season for both teams. Park Hill beat Platte County 3-1. Platte County was missing three returning starters who had to sit out due to not having enough practices under their belts. Set 1 looked to play out similar to the last match up with Park Hill dominating the set behind the play of Koski. The Trojans led 24-17 and looked to put the game away on a big swing from Birmingham. The ball was heading out of bounds towards the Pirate bench when a diving player returned the ball into play and Platte County would end up winning the rally. The wheels fell off for Park Hill and Platte County would come back to win the set 26-24. They would take that momentum and play lights out in the second set as Bryn McGehe Bryn McGehe 5'8" | DS/L Platte County | 2021 State MO and Kate Brown Kate Brown 5'11" | MB Platte County | 2022 State MO made timely plays to finish the sweep 25-18 for the championship.
Cardinal Pool
Central: Grain Valley 13-25, 25-14; Winnetonka 25-14, 25-22; Park Hill 19-25, 18-25; Hickman 26-24, 24-26
Grain Valley: Winnetonka 25-16, 18-25; Park Hill 19-25, 17-25; Hickman 24-26, 25-22
Winnetonka: Park Hill 11-25, 17-25; Hickman 27-26, 16-25
Park Hill: Hickman 25-19, 25-16
Gold Pool
North Kansas City: Platte County 25-23, 17-25; Raymore Peculiar 21-25, 23-25; St. Michael’s 25-21, 22-25; Truman 12-25, 25-22
Platte County: Raymore Peculiar 25-21, 26-24; St. Michael’s 25-21, 25-8; Truman 25-20, 22-25
Raymore Peculiar: St. Michael’s 25-18, 25-14; Truman 17-25, 21-25
St. Michael’s: Truman 25-23, 21-25