BV Northwest volleyball team is 4-0 and on a mission

Blue Valley Northwest High School volleyball coach Molly Haggerty is eager to prove that the Huskies’ run to the Kansas Class 6A state title game last season was not a fluke.

“We aren’t just going to sit there and think that last year was great and this is a rebuilding year,” Haggerty said. “We want to get back there and we have some young talent that can do it, if they are willing to put in the time and the hours.”

That mentality has worked, thus far, for the Huskies, who started the season ranked fifth in the Kansas Volleyball Association’s Class 6A state poll and are flawless with a 4-0 record entering a matchup with Olathe South on Saturday.

Blue Valley Northwest kicked off its season with a two-set victory against St. Teresa’s Academy in the Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Volleyball Slam last weekend. From there, the Huskies defeated Lawrence in three sets and picked up a pair of victories against Olathe North and Shawnee Mission East in a triangular meet on Thursday at SM East.

“We pretty young, so we are still trying to get into a rhythm. But as long as we’re passing well, we have some decent hitters and our setters can distribute the ball,” Haggerty said.

Although the Huskies are starting two sophomores, they have the benefit of several experienced seniors in libero Jordan Gonzales and outside hitter Adeline Ellis, who is committed to the University of Pittsburgh. Junior outside hitter Hannah VanBuskirk is also a returning starter.

Haggerty and the Huskies already have their eyes set on next week’s matchup when they face Olathe East in a dual at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Olathe East, which defeated the Huskies in three sets to win the Class 6A state championship, entered the season as the top-ranked team in the KVA state poll.

This story was originally published September 4, 2014 at 8:02 PM with the headline "BV Northwest volleyball team is 4-0 and on a mission."