​Eagles off to strong start in dominant three-set win over Truman

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
If Tuesday’s season opener against Truman was any indication, the Grain Valley volleyball team could be a force in Class 5 this year.
 
That was apparent from the first set as the Eagles dominated the Patriots from the start, showing a strong all-around game in a 25-4, 25-7 25-16 win at home.
 
“Our main goal for this game and for the entire season is to play with a lot of energy,” senior Chesnie King said. “We really came out with a lot of energy.
 
Grain Valley had a great all-around performance and were near perfect on serves, only missing one. The players sent a mix of top spin and float serves at the Truman defense, which kept them off balance.
 
Senior libero Chloe Hernandez led the team in aces with six as she closed out the third set with three straight. Sophomore setter Bromlee Cook had a nice top spin serve that proved difficult to return for Truman as she had four.
 
“We have a lot of varsity returners this season, so I knew we’d have a lot of experience and players who were good at serving,” Grain Valley head coach Tori Squiers said. “We do a lot of pressure serving and team serving drills to push aggressive serves.”
 
Added senior Kyleigh Casey: “The serves help us get on runs and help us build confidence at the net. If someone is having an off day, we have so many girls we know that can put the ball in play and score.”
 
In the first set, the Eagles took a commanding 17-1 advantage behind the strong serving of Casey, who had two aces and the strong striking at the net from King and junior Piper Jackson, who also provided a strong defensive presence with a game-high six blocks.
 
King scored three of the final eight points, getting two kills and an ace to help the Eagles take the first set. Grain Valley was dominant in the second set, as well. Casey was set up perfectly for six of her seven kills in the second by Cook and King as the Eagles led by as many as 18 points.
 
“We’re a force to be reckoned with at the net,” Squiers said. “I think that makes it fun.”
 
Truman put up a fight early in the first set. It took advantage of some mistakes from the Eagles and freshman Aleah Ulberg got one of her team-high four kills to help put her team up 4-2. Grain Valley went on a 7-0 run from there behind two aces from Hernandez and never looked back.
 
King and Casey tied for a game-high seven kills.
 

Grain Valley seniors Kayleigh Casey, left, and Chesnie King both had a season-high seven kills in a 25-4, 25-7, 25-16 win for the Grain Valley volleyball team's over Truman in the season opener Tuesday at home. Photo credit: Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
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