After a 1-5 start, the North High School volleyball team set out to prove it was better than its record showed.
So far, the Stars have been right.
North’s last time out prior to Tuesday’s night’s Missouri River Activities Conference match against West, the Stars beat then-ranked Bishop Heelan, who is the defending Class 4A state champion, for the Stars’ third conference win over the Crusaders of the last 15 years (a few more wins over Heelan over that span have come in tournament play).
“The win over Heelan gave us a lot of momentum,” Walrod said. “And that carried over to tonight. We were trying new things, and everything just seemed to work out.”
On Tuesday, the Stars had little trouble with West in a three-set sweep of the Wolverines at North High School (25-13, 25-11, 25-18).
It’s the third straight conference win for North (3-5, 3-1 MRAC), whose losses have come to East (twice), 4A No. 7 MOC-Floyd Valley, 3A No. 1 Western Christian and 3A No. 5 Cherokee.
“We’ve played so many ranked teams early in the season, we think our record is deceiving,” said North head coach Michelle Morgan. “We’ve played a lot better than what (our record) might make it seem like.
“So tonight was about staying at that level of play we’ve established so far this year, and turning that into a win. The Heelan win was kind of a culmination of the work they’ve put in. We played some of those teams early on — MOC, East, Western and Cherokee — really tough, but couldn’t close out those matches, so we’ve really wanted to see them finish strong.”
North boasts one of the MRAC’s most established setters in multi-year starter Kinslee Walrod, who’s over 900 career assists, and a talented group of youngsters, including outside hitter Adrienne Wall, who entered Tuesday with 70 kills, which ranked in the top five among freshmen in Class 5A.
“It was really easy getting a connection (with our underclassmen),” Walrod said. “But we’re still growing out there so it’s still getting better.
“(As a setter), I like being the one that has to know how everyone else thinks and plays.”
The Wolverines were also on their heels in serve-receive as North tallied 25 ace serves, led by nine from Walrod and six from senior libero Korbin Olorundami, who led the team with a dozen digs, and the Stars’ junior right side Lydia Kuehl notched three of the team’s four blocks.
“We connect really well out there,” said North junior outside ZaRyiah Van Buren, who went for nine kills and four digs. “We have a super easy team to fit on, we all get along really well and the team chemistry is good.”
The Stars had time to spread some playing time around late against West (1-11, 1-2 MRAC), but Walrod still went for 20 of the team’s 30 assists and Wall led the squad in kills with 11 while going for a .348 swing percentage.
“We’re really freshmen heavy,” said Morgan. “Even after bringing some of them up, our JV has had a really good season so far, so I’ve been impressed with them. They’re developing every day and getting ready for their time up on varsity.”
North’s kill efficiency as a team was nearly .300, and senior middle hitter Jaden Brower went for six kills on just eight swings for a .625 swing percentage.
West was led by freshman Addeline Vondrak nine kills. Senior Ofelia Rivera had 14 assists and senior libero Trinity Claussen led the match with 15 digs.
The Wolverines tried to stay alive by clinging to slim leads throughout the third set, but North separated when Walrod went for four straight aces to put the Stars up 16-11.
“We don’t want to be a team that almost does it,” Morgan said. “We want to be a team that can close other good teams out when we have a chance to win.”
PHOTOS: West at North, varsity volleyball
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Tayler Schueth sets the ball for a teammate during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
West’s Ofelia Rivera sets the ball for a teammate during an MRAC match against North at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Kinslee Walrod sets the ball for a teammate during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North teammates celebrate a point scored against West during an MRAC match at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. Pictured from left: ZaRyi…
North’s Adrienne Wall scores on a kill to give the Stars a Set 1 win over West during an MRAC volleyball match at North High on Tuesday, Sept.…
High school volleyball: West at North
West’s Aubri Johnson goes for a kill during an MRAC match against North at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Adrienne Wall (15) and Korbin Olorundami (2) talk with one another during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 2…
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Jaden Brower (above) goes for a kill during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
The North volleyball team scores on match point against West to earn an MRAC victory over the Wolverines at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Kinslee Walrod gets ready for the ball to be put into play during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Adrienne Wall goes for a kill during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Alexa Hayes (1) hits the ball over the net during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
North’s Corinne Strim goes for a kill during an MRAC match against West at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
High school volleyball: West at North
West’s Addeline Vondrak goes for a kill attempt during an MRAC match against North at North High on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
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