Freshness dots 3A volleyball field with a familiar state tournament favorite

Stephanie Blanda's plans include dancing when her North St. Paul Polars take the court Thursday in the Class 3A volleyball quarterfinals.

And not just because the Polars will be making the first state tournament appearance in team history, although that would be reason enough. Dancing and music have been a part of their game all season and the third-year head coach is expected to participate. Which she has done willingly.

"Music and dance really bonds people. We always have music playing," Blanda said. "I'm currently familiar with every hip-hop song that exists."

There is even a portion of a song by rap artist Blue Face that the team reserves for a Blanda solo before every match.

"They make me do a part of it," said Blanda, a 1996 Tartan grad who took over the program three years ago. "But, yeah, we like to dance."

North St. Paul is one of three teams appearing for the first time in the state tournament Class 3A bracket Thursday morning at Xcel Energy Center.

St. Louis Park earned its first berth with a tough five-set victory over Bloomington Jefferson in the Section 6 final. And Elk River has battled through a brutally tough schedule and remains standing after defeating Forest Lake in the Section 7 championship match.

"This is completely thrilling for us," St. Louis Park coach Whitney Meierotto-Simon said. "We knew we had it in us."

While North St. Paul boogied its way to the tournament, the Orioles relied on the athleticism of a group of two- and three-sport athletes. Other programs are stocked with year-round players, Meierotto-Simon said, so she knew the Orioles would face "some growing pains."

"We tend to start slower than other teams because our girls haven't been playing since last fall, but they're very coachable," she said.

It became evident about three weeks ago that St. Louis Park had a real chance to end its season at the X.

"In practice, we were focusing on scrimmaging and things started to click," Meierotto-Simon said.

"We've been working with mental training," Brummer said. "To not overreact to difficult situations, to stay in the moment and not panic. Over the last three weeks, we started to realize we can do this."

Three different approaches, all ending with the desired result: A coveted spot in the most important volleyball tournament of the season.

The three first-time coach all agree on one thing: It's the payoff they'd all been working for.