The girls volleyball team won its fourth state championship in six years, beating the Elkhorn South Storm 3-0, on Nov. 9 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Papio South won the first set 25-23, second set 25-20, and finally 25-18, which sealed the title.
On their way to the championship, the Titans played the Lincoln North Star Navigators in the quarter finals (won 3-0), the Millard West Wildcats in the semis (won 3-0), and finally met the Storm in the finals (won 3-0). The Titans swept all of their opponents, with the most points allowed in a set being 23.
Lyric Judson, sophomore middle hitter, said this state championship was different from the others.
“We’ve been through a lot this season, and the way we have fought back from all of our adversity is what makes it more special,” Judson said.
Head Coach Katie Tarman said the championships weren’t her main focus.
“I don’t look at it like that,” the coach explained. “I think it’s awesome that we’ve had great success, but I think that the most important part to me is that we’ve had groups of women be able to truly put their best out there. That’s what makes it more special for me: That I can look at all of our teams, including the ones that lost in the first round, second round, or third round – because we had one team lose in the semis; in the championship we were runners up, and then the team I coached last year lost in the first round – I am proud of the fact that all of our teams have proven to be groups of women that have a goal put together and want to achieve, and want to put their whole being into this team, and the outcome came to be a fourth state championship.”
Junior defensive specialist Kami Dyrstad said Coach Tarman’s advice stuck with her throughout the season.
“[Tarman] is a role model for us. She definitely is for me,” Dyrstad said. “Right before we went out of the locker room before the state championship, she said, ‘I believe in every single one of you, and there is no team better, and you guys can do this,’ and knowing she can believe in us that much gave me no doubt that we were going to win the game.”
This season for the Titans came with many memorable moments, just like how senior Charlee Solomon said it was tough to play her last game with her teammates.
“The most memorable moment for me was the locker room before we came out to the state championship,” Solomon said. “There were tears that were shed before that match, knowing that it was our last time all playing together. There were so many friendships that were made throughout the season, it was crazy that that was one of the last moments all together. However, it made us all want to win for each other, and it was just such a special moment.”
The volleyball team faced different challenges throughout the season.
“One thing we talked about a lot this season was trust,” Judson said. “We need to make sure we trust each other so that we can get the job done. Another thing was all of our effort: ‘I’ll support you if you give all of your effort, and I’ll give my effort to you.’”
The volleyball team ended the season with a record of 34-5, and a 10-1 record in districts.
Looking ahead to next season, Dyrstad said the five departing seniors would be missed.
“I love them so much,” Dyrstad said. “We would not be where we are if it wasn’t for them, even if they played or didn’t play, they had the biggest impact on me as a person, and on the whole team.”
