With only three regulars back from last year's double- digit loss team, the word in volleyball circles was to not expect much from Eden Prairie this season.

The Eagles saw the memo, but elected to crumple it up and pound it away like a perfectly placed kill.

"We're not a team that settles," senior middle blocker Kirsten Peterson said. "We don't let things bother us. One good thing about our team is we don't give up."

They can play some good volleyball, too.

The Eagles (24-6) made it through the tough Class 3A, Section 6 tournament, advancing to state by way of a 3-1 victory over defending state runner-up Wayzata in the championship match. Eden Prairie received the fourth seed for the state tournament, and opens play at 9 a.m. Thursday against unseeded Owatonna (22-8) at Xcel Energy Center.

It's the Eagles' second trip to state in program history, their first since 2004.

That the team made it this far is impressive anyway, but the meter rises when you factor in the lack of returning starters and the run of bad luck with injuries.

Outside hitter Ellen Piechowski and middle Michaela Sir have both missed significant time in the past two years. Piechowski has torn both of her ACLs and partially tore her right ACL again late this season. Sir, a 6-4 force, has worked through a handful of different ailments.

In addition, Leesa Hulstrand suffered a concussion during the Eastview tournament when a ball from another court rolled under her, and she landed on it while going for a kill.

"It's been kind of like you just plug in another player and keep on keeping on," coach Chad Becker said. "Fortunately we have a lot of depth. When players get an opportunity, they have to come out and play well, and I've seen that from this group. They've been there for each other all season long."

Ranked sixth along with Blaine and Centennial in the season's first coaches poll, the Eagles lost their first three regular-season dual matches. It was merely a speed bump.

Eden Prairie has hung around all season, winning the Lake Conference before its run through the section tournament.

Defeated by Hopkins in the regular-season finale to ruin their perfect conference record, the Eagles exacted revenge in the section tournament in a five-game semifinal thriller.

"All year, our coach has been telling us that we just need to play together as a team and communicate," junior Sarah Wilhite said. "I think we were able to do that last week. Our sets and our passing [were] really great."

Becker sees this week's state tournament as wide open, giving "five or six teams a legitimate chance" at receiving gold medals Saturday.

It comes down to "Are you going to get your points and find matchups to exploit?" Becker said. "It's been a fun season to watch around here. At some point, you're going to have to beat the best teams to win it all."