EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (Sept. 5, 2024) — The Excelsior Springs varsity volleyball team put up a strong fight in their home-opening matchup against North Kansas City on Thursday but ultimately fell in three sets. The Tigers kept the pressure on the Hornets, especially in the final two sets, but North Kansas City emerged victorious with scores of 25-13, 25-23, and 25-23.
Junior Jordin Price led the Tigers with an impressive performance, notching 10 kills and 7 digs, while senior Samantha Shue added 5 kills and 8 digs. Senior Kenzlee McDaniels contributed 4 kills and 10 receptions, rounding out a solid all-around showing for the Tigers.
In setting up the offense, junior Lillah Shue played a crucial role with 22 assists, orchestrating the attack and keeping Excelsior Springs competitive in each set. Defensively, Maya Watkins stood out with a game-high 23 digs, helping the Tigers stay in long rallies and defend against the Hornets’ strong offense.
Despite the loss, the Tigers showed resilience, particularly in the second and third sets, where they battled back and forth with North Kansas City but fell just short. Assistant coach Terri Irons commented on the team’s determination, saying, “The Tiger varsity squad finished a rigorous opening week with a third straight game. Taking on NKC at home, the Tigers showed some signs of improvement and continue to play with heart. The Tigers continue to work on finding the right chemistry and continue to make gains while trying several different lineups. We have another three-match week coming up—the schedule is relentless!”
Coach Irons’ words reflect the team’s effort and positive strides, as the Tigers continue to develop their chemistry and test different lineups. With their next set of matches fast approaching, Excelsior Springs remains focused on improvement.
JV Volleyball Edges Out North Kansas City in Thrilling Three-Set Match
The Excelsior Springs JV volleyball team claimed a hard-fought first victory of the season against North Kansas City. In a back-and-forth contest, the Tigers won two sets to one, with scores of 25-18, 20-25, and a dramatic 37-35 in the third set.
Sophomore Lara Hutton led the Tigers’ offense, delivering 9 kills with a hitting percentage of .111. Junior Bella Desautels also contributed to the attack with 5 kills, while freshman Izabella Maxwell added 2. Despite facing a strong opponent, the Tigers hit a combined .059, and their persistence was key in sealing the win.
The team’s serving was also pivotal, with Desautels earning 4 aces, and sophomore Raelyn Kirtley serving with impressive accuracy, adding 13 points and 4 assists. Junior Neveah Happy led the defense with 10 digs, supported by solid performances from Kendalyn Jones with 7 digs and Kirtley with 9.
Freshmen Show Improvement
The Excelsior Springs freshman volleyball team demonstrated significant improvement during their match against North Kansas City on Thursday, despite falling in two sets with scores of 20-25 and 19-25. The Tigers showcased growth and resilience as they continue to build their team chemistry.
According to Assistant Coach Terri Irons, the Tigers showed “great improvement from the previous two matches” and played with increased confidence. Freshman Madison Whitworth led the team with 2 kills, hitting .400, while Madalynn Dagley added 1 kill with a strong .500 hitting percentage. Freshman Emily Hillyard contributed a perfect hitting percentage as well, registering 1 kill on her only attempt.
On the serving front, Dagley was a standout with 4 aces, while Whitworth and Hillyard each added 3 points for the Tigers. Defensively, Neveah Happy led the effort with 10 digs, supported by contributions from Shaylen Wilder and Libby Ringenberg, each with 2 digs.
Looking Ahead
The volleyball Tigers are gearing up for a busy week against tough opponents. At home, they will face Central (St. Joseph) on September 10 and Harrisonville on September 11 before traveling to Kearney on September 12. They will then compete in the Chillicothe Invitational on September 14. Varsity matches begin at 6:30 p.m.
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