Abby Palkert stood in the halls of the Xcel Energy Center Saturday, her voice cracking as emotion bubbling to the surface as tears.

The 6-foot senior middle hitter had just played a key role in Southwest Christian’s 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 victory over Fillmore Central in the Class 1A volleyball state championship match. The trophy she helped win represented the Stars had just won the first team state championship in any sport for the Chaska school of 190 students.

“This means so much to all of us,” said Palkert, pausing to wipe the tears from her face. “I’ve played with these girls since I was in fifth grade. I played with [coach Greg] Sayuk for six years. To finally be able to win a championship? There’s no words for it.”

Fillmore Central (35-3), which represents the towns of Preston, Harmony and Fountain in southeast Minnesota, was making its first appearance the state tournament , the first time any girls’ team had advanced that far. The No. 1-seeded Falcons admittedly battled nervousness in their first match but believed that a victory over Southwest Christian in a September tournament would prove valuable.

“We felt confident we could beat them because we did it before, but they put up a block up and we couldn’t do anything about it,” said senior rightside hitter Tori Peterson. “I know we lost, but I couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish my high school career.”

Peterson’s assessment of the biggest difference in the match was spot-on. Southwest Christian’s front line of Palkert, senior Abby Vandergailen and sophomore Ally Krommendyk repeatedly flustered the Fillmore Central offensive players. The Stars had nine blocks and twice as many intimidations, forcing Fillmore Central to a dismal .036 kill efficiency.

“Our blocker really stepped up,” said star outside hitter Mackenzie Horkey, who led the Stars with 17 kills. “The last time we played them, we were like ‘Oh, what do we do?’ We knew what to do this time.”

Sayuk said the most satisfying thing about his team's victory was that he didn’t have to change much or strategize in any way. 

The team did it for him.

“The work ethic this team brought every day is the reason they won,” Sayuk said. “They practice like state champions. It was comforting to know that I didn’t have to do anything different to win.”