​Experienced Eagles look to win first district title since 2020

by Michael Smith
 

It wasn’t that long ago when the Grain Valley volleyball team was one of the top teams in Missouri.

During the 2020 season, the Eagles had a 21-10-3 record and won the Class 4 District 13 Tournament and went on to make the quarterfinals before falling to Platte County. In 2021, they went 24-5-2 before losing to Blue Springs South in the district tournament.

Last season was an up and down season for Grain Valley as it went 15-16 and fell to St. Michael The Archangel Catholic in the semifinals of the district tournament.

This season, with eight seniors on the team and multiple players returning with varsity experience, the Eagles hope to revisit what they did in 2020 and win a district title.

“We have a lot of returners, which makes for an older experienced team,” Grain Valley head coach Tori Squiers said. “I think that sets us up pretty well. We have the talent on the team to have a pretty successful post season.”

They will have to try and do that without one of their best players from last season, outside hitter Adelyn Bybee. She totaled 217 kills, 36 blocks and 158 digs. That is a lot of production to replace, but the Eagles bring back two players with varsity experience on the outside -- Kayla Gallagher and Izabella West.

Gallagher is a team captain and is a player that could lead the Eagles in kills this season. West is someone who got some playing time in 2022 and can “jump out of gym,” according to Squiers.

“Kayla Gallagher was a six-rotational player for us last season,” Squiers said. “Izabella was a state track athlete in the long jump. She’s very athletic and is a great kid. She will probably be earning a six-rotational position this season.

“Kayla has an amazing arm swing and she’s very smart with the ball. She can see the other side of the court and place it very well. She can also hit around blocks. She’s a player we don’t want to take off the court.”

Added West: “I think we are going to be very strong offensively this year. We have a lot of good hitters.”

Assisting West and Gallagher at the net is senior Megan Davies, who will return as the team’s starting middle hitter. This is her third season as a starter.

“She continues to get faster,” Squiers said of Davies. “She continues to get more blocks. She’s a stud up there.”

In 2022, Allison Koepkey was the only setter on a team that ran a 5-1 offense. She returns this season as the team’s primary setter once again, but she will have some help. Squiers said her team will run a 6-2 this season, which means there will be two setters on the court instead of one.

Seniors Olivia Dickson and Brooklynn Slater will assist Koepkey in setting up the hitters at the net for kills.

“They are strong athletes, as well,” Squiers said of Dickson and Slater. “It’s very competitive here at Grain Valley, and that’s a great thing to have.”

Senior Haylie Jennings is another important piece to the Eagles as she returns as the team’s libero. She is a team captain and a strong leader, Squiers said.

“We have a very strong defensive team,” Jennings said. “We are very scrappy at times and we have some good hustlers. We have a lot of players that will go all out for balls about to hit the floor.”

With so many returning players, the Eagles plan to run a quick set, fast-paced style offense. Squiers said that having two setters allows for more attackers to get chances for kills at the net.

If Grain Valley can run that style of offense effectively, the Eagles could see themselves as district champions once again. That’s the goal the players have set for themselves along with winning the Suburban White Conference championship.

“I think we can do better than we did last year,” Koepkey said. “We have been able to play St. Michael close in summer league. That’s our biggest competition in districts.”
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Added Gallagher: “I want to win districts so bad. I think we can do it.”

​Senior Isabella West is expected to be a six-rotational player for the Grain Valley volleyball this season as an outside guest. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Senior Haylie Jennings will return as a team captain and starting libero for the Eagles. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Senior Allison Koepkey will be a returning starting setter for Grain Valley. Photo credit: Michael Smith