Many thought of them to be a team with talent, but not top 10 talent. Losing the majority of their starters was hard but the resilience and dedication that was shown all summer and in the pre season has paid off now in the postseason. They are now A-6 district champions returning to state.

The Papillion-La Vista volleyball team punched their ticket to state Wednesday night beating Pius X three sets to one. The Monarchs will be returning to state once again with some unfinished business.

“Everyone on the team agreed on a common goal, going to state,” sophomore outside hitter Morgan Glaser said. “We did it for each other to finish our unfinished business from last year and everybody on the team will continue to give it their all for each other as we continue the fight.”

This team simply does not take no for an answer. They fight for each other and do not give up until the fight is over. There is never a sense of fear in this team and when they play for each other there should be no fear.

“The 2021 team is one of the most resilient teams I have coached,” head coach John Svehla said. “There have been sets within a match that this team has gotten down big and they have clawed back to win it. They continue to fight no matter the score and that has given the girls confidence that they can still win the match, no matter the situation.”

This team has encountered some crazy challenges over the season but they fought through the obstacles and have definitely made it a season to remember. This has not only made them stronger, but has made them closer.

“When Mia had her ankle injury during the Papio South game it left a lot of people on edge,” Glaser said. “It brought us closer as a team because people were encouraged to step up and play bigger roles on the team which made us bond and understand the importance of everyone’s roles.”

Some could argue that leadership is a big contribution from seniors but it also is shown by the underclassman. Each and every one of the Monarch volleyball players have stepped up and showed their leadership in various ways throughout the season.

“The leadership on this team has been tremendous,” Svehla said. “Our seniors have set the tone for expectations in practice, at games and off the court. We have also had a ton of underclassmen contribute. They have done a nice job setting expectations on the court with their work ethic. With everyone living these expectations, the bond in the team has grown and the players trust each other. Ultimate trust allows us to play fearless and go after it in the most stressful moments of a match. This has allowed us to have the success we had this year.”

The Monarchs are set to take on Millard West in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday night at five at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Monarchs have made multiple state appearances and last year placed top three. This year the Monarchs are hungry for a state championship and are ready for all the challenges that are ahead of them.