Lady Eagles Wrap Up Whirlwind Week With State Playoff Run

by John Unrein

​     The Grain Valley Lady Eagles Volleyball team had a whirlwind week.  The Class 4 District 13 Tournament trophy was hoisted by the Eagles on October 29th in Warrensburg, following wins over Marshall (by a score of 3-0) and St. Michael the Archangel (by a score of 3-1). The district championship propelled the Eagles into the Class 4 State Tournament at Winnetonka High School on October 31st.
     The Lady Eagles were scary good in their Halloween win over the St. Pius X Warriors (by a score of 3-1) during their first match of the tournament.
     Offensively, the win for the Eagles was fueled by their play in generating kills at the net by Adelyn Bybee, Olivia Williams, and Addison Baumgartner. The jumping ability, timing, and placement of the volleyball on the other side of the net led to 7, 15, and 8 kills by Bybee, Williams, and Baumgartner, respectively. Maddi Morris also displayed excellent setting for the Eagles in producing 23 assists. The offensive execution by the Eagles produced set scores of 25-22, 25-13, 24-26, and 25-20.
      The defensive trio of Clara Gower, Kelly Kirkpatrick, and Kellie Overturf were equally fruitful for the Eagles. Gower, in her role as “Libero” (defensive specialist who often wears a different colored uniform than the rest of the team) produced 17 digs. The 5’ 4” senior planned her bends and dives to the floor in consistently getting under the volleyball.
     Kirkpatrick was active along the back line for Grain Valley as well in delivering 12 digs of her own. Overturf supplied 4 blocks at the net in repelling scoring attempts by St. Pius X. An accomplishment that came through Overturf understanding who the priority hitter was for the Warriors and getting in front of her.
     “I had to focus on my normal routine early of being a ‘ball setter’ and ‘ball hitter’ until I figured out who they primarily wanted to hit the volleyball, and then I focused my attention there,” Overturf said.
     Lady Eagles first year head volley coach Tori Squiers was pleased with her team’s effort after the match that propelled them into the quarterfinal round of the Class 4 State Tournament.
     “Wow, we were everywhere. My ‘Libero’ Clara (Gower) was all over the court defensively. She reads the ball so well and knows where it’s going to go, and that puts her in the right place. (Kellie) Overturf loomed in the middle and made some key blocks. This was fun to watch,” Squiers said.
     “Offensively, we made them (St. Pius X) work. Our good passing led to success. Olivia (Williams) uses tips (at the net) as well on her kills and places the ball in opportune spots on the other side of the net.”
     Grain Valley waited to see who their next opponent would be in the matchup between the Platte County Pirates and Pembroke Hill Raiders on the opposite side of the tournament bracket. Platte County would go on to beat the Raiders (by a score of 3-1), setting up the late afternoon Halloween matchup between the Eagles and Pirates.
     Set scores of 20-25, 15-25, and 20-25 demonstrated the Eagles courageous effort in dropping their final match of the season to the Pirates in the quarterfinal game. Platte County was nearly flawless in the display of fundamentals leading to their victory.
      Grain Valley pressed Platte County into calling timeouts in all three sets in attempting to halt the momentum generated by the Eagles, including 7-7 ties at the outset of both the second and third sets. Eventually, points established by the Pirates holding serve and their stellar defensive play produced the difference in the outcome.
     A proud and somber group of Lady Eagles waited for Coach Squiers to address the team following the match near the gym exit. Squiers would share how proud she was of their effort along with encouraging them to be proud of what they accomplished during the season. A sentiment she shared in her postgame thoughts as well.
     “It’s hard to be mad. We gave this a heck of a fight. The six seniors on this team will be missed. I am a pretty young coach and I think a lot us will stay friends as part of the start of a lifelong relationship. This team will miss the leadership our seniors have provided,” Squiers said.
     Gower and Williams also shared their reflections on the season following hugs with teammates and parents.
     “It’s good to feel like we can leave this season having accomplished something. This senior group will remember this forever and I am proud that we lived this,” Gower said.
     Williams added, “This season was fun. I’m going to miss the seniors like Clara. And ‘yes,’ I like forward to the future.”
     Grain Valley finishes the season with a 21-10-3 record and establishing themselves on the Class 4 Volleyball landscape as a team for opponents to be aware of moving forward.

Lady Eagles volleyball team celebrates their Class 4 District 13 win.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet

Junior outside hitter Olivia Williams produces a kill at the net for the Eagles.
Photo credit: Valley News staff

Senior Libero Clara Gower successfully hits a serve.
Photo credit: Valley News staff

Junior middle hitter (#36) Kellie Overturf blocks the attempt by Platte County at the net.
Photo credit: Valley News staff