Eden Prairie volleyball armed with weapons for fourth trip to state

It's not the tallest team in the state. There are no big name hitters who turn heads with resounding kills. But at Eden Prairie, those things matter little. In fact, it's the little things that matter.

The Eagles will be playing in the Class 3A volleyball state tournament at the Xcel Center in St. Paul beginning Thursday. That they're in the tournament is not news; this will be their fourth consecutive trip. They don't make hotel reservations, they renew them.

What stands out about the Eagles is how they got this far. They've won consistently this season because they just can't stand to see an opponents' shot hit the floor. For the Eagles, letting a ball bounce on their side of the court is equivalent of muddy shoes on a carpet.

"We keep the ball in play," senior setter Elizabeth (Elmo) Mohr said. "No unforced errors, make [the opponent] make mistakes. That's kind of our game."

Their specialty was on display in a three-game sweep of Wayzata on Saturday in the Section 6 final.

Wayzata was spilling over with confidence after a stunningly decisive victory over Hopkins in the semifinals. The Trojans started the championship match the same way they ended the previous one, passing, setting and hitting with precision.

But slowly, shots that had resulted in points in the semifinals started being returned. Wayzata's edge began to dull. Eden Prairie rallied and won the last six points to win the first set.

"We always say that there's nothing more frustrating to a big hitter than to go up, give it their best armswing and it keeps coming back at them," Mohr said. "It's frustrating for them and a real big boost for us."

It should be noted that Eden Prairie is not simply a bunch of diminutive backboards whose sole job is to force mistakes.

There is defense at the net, too. Perhaps the most improved part of the defense has been the play of the Eagles' blockers, paced by Aulora Campbell, Ashley Brueggeman and Grace Persson. Together, they've combined for 233 blocks this season.

"Our blockers have worked really hard over the last month and a half, and it's starting to pay off for us," Eagles coach Chad Becker said.

While the defense is the foundation, the offense is an enviable combination of versatility and skill. Seniors Campbell and Abby Ihrke, juniors Brueggeman and Briley Nichols and freshman Persson all have more than 135 kills, led by 304 for Brueggeman and 264 for Ihrke, one of the Eagles' three captains.

That job falls to Mohr, who is widely considered one of the best setters in the metro. She's skilled at taking passes and digs, often from difficult angles, and turning them into usable sets. Her 850 set assists are a testament to her ability to run a balanced attack.

For most, having a true superstar to lean on is vital for long-term success. At Eden Prairie, that feeling falls on everyone. No single player is greater than the team. Everyone contributes, creating a tightly woven fabric of success. Call Eden Prairie the Kevlar of prep volleyball.

"It's been a really amazing team effort this year, trying to build and find a way to win as a team" Ihrke said. "It's really cool to not have to rely on one player."

According to Becker, it's all part of the plan.

"They are exactly that — a team," he said. "Nobody ever gets down on each other, they trust what they're doing out there and everyone knows what her role is. It's a special group."