Pistora plays in first volleyball all-star game
Before last week, Ali Pistora’s storied career at Tonganoxie High didn’t include a volleyball all-star game.
She can now scratch another honor off her career accomplishments list.
Pistora participated in the 22nd annual Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Match at Silver Lake High School on July 24. She participated on the red team, which lost to the blue team in five games.
“I tried to get ready for the game by going to open gym on Mondays to scrimmage with the girls from the high school,” Pistora said. “The game was pretty neat, but there wasn’t anyone around that I knew. I remembered some from club volleyball.”
Pistora played right side hitter. She got into three of the five games.
The red team practiced three times before the all-star game — two times the day before the game and once the day of the game.
“I remember one point, which was a rally for a while,” Pistora said. “The ball came over close to the net, so I thought I’d jump up and spike it. But I spiked it right into the net. That was my first embarrassment of the night.”
The blue team won by scores of 30-18, 18-30, 30-23, 30-28 and 15-12.
Before the game, the KVA displayed pictures on a projection screen of all the participants.
“That actually wasn’t too embarrassing,” Pistora said. “I had some baby pictures and some graduation pictures. My parents were pretty good about putting good pictures up.”
Pistora had five family members and about 10 friends from Tonganoxie make the trip to Silver Lake.
Pistora participated in a track camp at Kansas State a week before the all-star game. She will throw the javelin for the Wildcats next season.
Tonganoxie finished the volleyball season last fall at 32-9. It lost in the finals of the Class 4A substate tournament to Holton in two games, 25-23 and 25-22.