"We've been talking a lot about believing in ourselves and being confident," Wastvedt said. "We're working very hard to change our culture."

That culture includes a .355 winning percentage (82-149) since the start of the 2013 season and just a .150 win percentage (12-68) in conference games in that same span. The Panthers, by comparison, have won 71.8 percent of their games (180-71) and 70.5 percent (62-26) of conference games.

But Wastvedt and a talented crew of players such as seniors Kiylah Franke and Julia Valois and super sophomore Mesaiya Bettis have the Blaze on an upward swing. Since he became head coach in 2019, Burnsville is 39-44 and last fall had its first winning season since 2013. The Blaze won its first six games this season but have struggled with injuries and stronger competition in the middle portion of the season.

Playing in the South Suburban Conference, one of the toughest conferences in the state, has not been conducive to making a big leap. In fact, winning games within the conference remains the biggest hurdle for the Blaze to overcome. Burnsville (10-8, 0-3) has beaten just four conference opponents since the start of the 2013 season and is 1-3 this year with a victory over Eastview earlier this month at the Marshall tournament.

"We work so hard and we're so close," said sophomore Kate Dam, whose hand-tattooed mantra on her forearm ("UR Worthy") could just as easily be applied to her team. "We're just a step away."

That step did not happen on Thursday against a Lakeville North team that has won 11 games, remains unbeaten in league play and is ranked third in Class 4A by the Minnesota Coaches Association. But the Panthers' victory was not easy. Burnsville, despite playing with its two stars limited with injuries and a third starter sidelined by illness, battled to remain within striking distance the entire game. When Lakeville North pulled away from an 11-10 lead in the third set and Bettis left the game after aggravating an Achilles tendon injury, the Blaze fought back from a five-point deficit to tie the game at 23-23 and force the Panthers to win 26 points to take the set and the game. 

"We've always been overlooked and been the underdogs," Dam said. "But with the hitters we have, with the serving and defense we have, I believe we can win. We just need to have the drive."

Even if the Blaze struggle the rest of the way through the conference season, they remain a strong contender to win their first state tournament berth since 2009. Burnsville is assigned to Section 6, won last season by Bloomington Jefferson but experiencing a downturn this season. Burnsville's prime competition in the section appears to be Minneapolis Southwest from the Minneapolis City Conference and St. Louis Park of the Lake Conference. Minneapolis Southwest and Burnsville are the only section teams with winning records.

But Wastvedt has bigger goals in mind. He doesn't want to be the team that backed into the state tournament. "We want to host the section tournament with no questions asked," Wastvedt said.

The coach acknowledged his team will have to beat a few of its remaining conference opponents to earn that, but he is confident that with a little time off for his stars to heal the Blaze can start to crack away at the strong bonds of the South Suburban Conference opposition.

"We're excited to compete with our full lineup," he said.