Kaija Kunze-Hoeg recalled losing “almost all our games” as a seventh- and eighth-grader with Mounds Park Academy volleyball.

“We were not good,” Kunze-Hoeg said. “I never thought I would make it to state.”

Now a senior, and back at state for the second time since 2019, Kunze-Hoeg and her teammates upset No. 1 seed Southwest Christian in the Class 2A state quarterfinals in a thrilling five-set match, 26-24, 20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-11.

The Panthers used a 12-1 run to keep pace with Southwest Christian in the first set. When the Stars reached set point with an 8-2 run of their own, the Panthers keep their composure, winning the next four points for the set.

“Once we won that first set, that really proved that we could stick with them and beat them,” said junior outside hitter Lola Pilon.

Southwest Christian got down 2-1 in the match before using a 9-1 run in the fourth to force the deciding set. Tied at 11 points apiece in the fifth, the Panthers closed out the match how they started: By winning four consecutive points.

After the point was decided, the Panthers could celebrate and let other emotions flow, too.

“Relief,” Kunze-Hoegsaid. “I could feel the tears coming because I was just tired, and it was just like ‘finally.’”

The match was a tight one throughout, with the score tied 34 times and 17 lead changes. The Panthers (27-4) finished with 56 kills in the match, with 50 of them coming from Pilon (30) and Kunze-Hoeg (20).

Experience helped the Panthers, too, having been to the Class 1A state tournament in 2019. The Panthers weren’t fazed by a ranked opponent or getting down throughout the match, which is a testament to the senior leadership, said coach Jeff Kunze-Hoeg.

“I’m really proud of how they battled today,” Jeff Kunze-Hoeg said. “Any time you are in a fifth set like that, that fifth set really can go either way, because both teams have already proven themselves a couple times. And now it’s who’s going to step up and make that one play that might be the momentum shift.”

Senior Estelle Haugen led the way for the Stars (29-4) with 26 kills and 25 digs. Coach Jessy Tow-Arnett said she knew Mounds Park Academy was going to be a great opponent.

“We never really found our groove in this match,” Tow-Arnett said. “I don’t want to say we were in panic mode, but it felt like we were always a step behind.”

In a battle between two state tournament first-timers, it was unseeded Hawley that didn’t fade under the bright lights, coming back for a 25-21, 18-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-11 five-set victory.

Down 2-1 in the match, the Nuggets started talking more in the next set, said senior Faith Rustad. They also relied on the mental toughness they work on during practice, Alexandra Eilertson said.

“We definitely adjusted our defense to what type of hitters they had,” said senior outside hitter Grace Fleming.  

Hawley (28-5) had 13 total team blocks. Rustad had 15 kills, including one to seal the match. For the Bombers (27-6), Madison Burr had a match-high 25 kills and added 11 digs.

Bombers coach Melissa Huseth was impressed with Hawley’s ability to cut down on its errors and how well its players blocked. Hawley was the better team while the Bombers were “reacting instead of being proactive,” Huseth said.

“I think we broke down,” said senior Jaci Winchell. “We didn’t play our best ball. They wanted it a little more than we did.”

No. 4-seed Jackson County Central swept 5-seed Annandale 25-15, 25-14, 25-19 to advance to the Class 2A semifinals.

The Huskies (28-6) started the match on an 8-0 run and never looked back.

“I think it just really helped us build our momentum going into the whole match,” Jackson County Central coach Deidre Wierson said.

They closed out the match with four straight points, including two kills from senior Sadie Voss. She finished the match with 14 kills and 21 digs.

Kali Jones and Riley Peper each had six kills for the Cardinals (25-5).

No. 3-seeded Sauk Centre won its four-set match over unseeded Greenway (22-7). The Mainstreeters (31-1) recorded 14 total team blocks in the 25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 25-10 victory.

Sauk Centre knew they would have to slow down Greenway’s Emma Markovich (15 kills) and Bri Miller (16 kills), said coach Jim Klaphake.

“We have never seen a block that size,” said Greenway coach Rhaya Tomberlin-Anderson.