Making noise now at Centennial

During Saturday's Class 3A, Section 5 volleyball championship match, Osseo's student section aimed a "We can't hear you" chant at their counterparts from Centennial.

The Cougars' supporters, outnumbered at least 10-to-1, were hard to see let alone hear. A Sadie Hawkins dance at Centennial High School kept a lot of would-be attendees away, but those who ventured to Osseo watched the Cougars qualify for their first state tournament ever.

Centennial (24-5) will face No. 1 seed Shakopee (29-0) in the quarterfinals beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Drawing the two-time defending champion Sabers "makes for a real welcome-to-the-state-tournament moment," Cougars coach Jackie Rehbein-Manthey said. "But we've been underestimated from the beginning."

The coach's gripe is valid. Like last Saturday's undersized student section, Centennial has struggled to make noise. The Cougars finished with fewer losses than two of the ranked teams in the Class 3A state tournament, as well as No. 2 seed Burnsville.

The Cougars beat then-No. 4-ranked and fellow state tournament qualifier Andover 3-1 during the season, but the victory dropped the Huskies one spot in the rankings and did nothing to heighten the Cougars' reputation with voters.

Despite the snub, players said beating Andover made them believe in themselves.

"We knew after that we were good," senior Megan Waytashek said. "That gave us a lot of confidence."

"We thought we were invincible," sophomore Leigh Pudwill said.

Not so fast.

Illness rendered several players ineffective for a period of time in mid-October, which included a 3-1 loss at Osseo on Oct. 13. Rehbein-Manthey said just three of her 16 players were healthy at the next day's practice.

Sweeping defending section champion Osseo in the rematch washed away any hard feelings while validating Rehbein-Manthey's optimism for the Cougars' seniors Waytashek, Amanda McAulay, Abby Mohr and Krista Stoltz.

McAulay led the Cougars with 12 kills Saturday, while Waytashek, Mohr and Stoltz were effective at the net and in the back row. McAulay ranks second on the team in kills and digs while Waytashek is third in both categories.

"A few years ago, I knew this group would give us our best shot," Rehbein-Manthey said. "Three of them are 6 feet tall and have great athletic ability."

The seniors got a boost from Pudwill this season. A 6-2 outside hitter, Pudwill leads the team in kills (344), digs (193) and volleyball acumen. She closed out the first two games at Osseo with two of her 10 kills. Rehbein-Manthey coached Pudwill as a seventh-grader and has watched her talent bloom and burst.

"If anyone scouts our team, they know they need to look out for her," Rehbein-Manthey said. "She's phenomenal to watch, and she inspired everyone around her to play better."

Before last Saturday's match at Osseo, Pudwill and her teammates left the pregame motivational speech to Waytashek, the only player on the roster with state tournament experience. She played on the Cougars' Class 4A runner-up basketball team last season.

"I told them how much fun going to state is and what a great life experience it is," Waytashek said. "It sticks with you forever."

"She said we get to go to a big banquet and stay in a hotel," Pudwill said. "She got us real pumped up. She told us we could do anything."

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574