After a close battle against Bloomington Jefferson, Park overcame the Jaguars in the fifth set 15-13, winning their first Section title in Park volleyball history.

With such a turbulent match, each team stole the lead seemingly every second, Coach Whitney Meierotto-Simon said she focused on their side of the court, not the score.

“I kept reminding the girls that we don’t have to worry about the scoreboard, we just have to worry about what we are doing on our side of the net,”  Meierotto-Simon said.

Meierotto-Simon believes the team is very deserving of the win because of their hard work.

“Why not these kids?” Meierotto-Simon said. “They work so hard and we have been continually getting better.  Why not us?”

According to senior captain Makaila Winward she was proud of how her team was able to keep high energy throughout the whole game.

“(Everyone on the team) just buys into the fact that volleyball is a game of momentum,” Winward said. “If you get one point that’s just momentum onto your side and (we did) a good job playing together.”

Winward said she also believes no matter if the crowd is booing or cheering, the team is always getting good vibrations.

“Before the match even started, we were booed. Any energy in the stands or any energy wherever is good energy,” Winward said.

According to junior Raegan Alexander, she believes that her team was able to play strong no matter the score.

“Even though we were down, (we were)  just putting our head down and going and giving it our all,” Alexander said.

According to Meierotto-Simon in order to succeed the team must stay composed and focus on their game.

“We knew we weren’t going to play a perfect game,” Meierotto-Simon said. “It’s all about staying confident and worrying about our side of the net and not so much what (the opponents) are going to do.”

Alexander said she is looking forward to competing in the State tournament, as it is the first time Park’s volleyball team has made it this far.

“(I am) very excited, especially since it’s the first time in the schools’ history,” Alexander said.

Park’s next game will be against Eagan at 9 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Xcel Energy Center.