​Freshman makes sparkling debut in Eagles’ win over Smithville

by Michael Smith
 
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The Grain Valley volleyball team is deep.
 
Head coach Tori Squiers had plenty of options to choose from when constructing the rotations for her varsity roster.
 
Freshman Piper Jackson was one player who was in the running for varsity minutes. At first,
Squiers chose to have her start out playing the junior varsity team. However, after seeing an entire summer of Jackson playing with the JV girls, the head coach noticed that it wasn’t a good fit.
 
It’s because Jackson excelled so much during the summer that Squiers elevated her to the varsity roster and she played in the team’s season opener Monday at home against Smithville.
 
The freshman proved she belonged as she made an impact with four kills and four blocks in a 25-18. 25-16, 25-13 sweep of the Warriors.
 
“We knew about her and we were excited about her,” Squiers said. “She was just too fast for the JV speed. “She was a standout on the court so we tried her out at the KU camp this summer. She was able to keep up with the pace and that’s what we needed.”
 
The Eagles are six players deep in terms of players who can put the ball away and get blocks at the net. Jackson was one of those as she made life difficult for any Warriors player that went for a kill.
 
For a player who admitted she was nervous before the start of the match, she didn’t look like it as she looked composed and in control at the net.
 
“I was pretty nervous before but once I started playing, I was good,” Jackson said. “Everyone was really welcoming so it was easy to connect with the team.”
 
Whenever she did something positive on the court, the Grain Valley student crowd chanted, ‘She’s a freshman!’ On Monday, she didn’t look like one. She looked like a player who had one or two years of varsity experience.
 
“I think it’s always tough coming in as a freshman,” Squiers said. “Her teammates supported her and the crowd supported her well. When you hear, ‘She’s a freshman,’ it gets you fired up.”
 
Junior Kayla Gallagher was one of those teammates showing support for the freshman as she was impressed with Jackson’s debut.
 
“She fits right in,” Gallagher said. “Her energy matches what we do.”
 
Jackson is a part of a deep Grain Valley squad that saw nine players on the court Monday. Everyone who played got at least one kill. Gallagher led the way with 10 kills and showed a strong jump serve that was effective enough for a team-high five kills.
 
“We are all pretty good players, we can play wherever she puts us,” Gallagher said.
 
Added Squiers: “A lot of teams have weak rotations. That’s a strength of ours because we don’t have a weak rotation. We have the depth. All six rotations are strong.”
 
The Eagles never trailed by more than two points as they dominated throughout. They put the nail in the coffin of any hope of a comeback from Smithville early in the third set.
 
There was a rally that lasted nearly two minutes, and Grain Valley ended up winning it when sophomore outside hitter Kyliegh Casey put away a kill that put her team up 9-4 as Grain Valley never looked back.
 
“It definitely was an adrenaline rush for our side,” Gallagher said. “It’s always good to win those kinds of points when  the motivation is on your side.”
 
Senior Megan Davies added seven kills for the Eagles.

​The Grain Valley volleyball team celebrates a 25-18, 25-16, 25-13 win over Smithville in the season opener Monday at home. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley junior Kyla Gallagher utilizes a jump serve. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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Grain Valley senior libero Haylie Jennings prepares to serve the ball. Photo credit: Michael Smith