Volleyball Wins Consolation Semifinals

Team beats Moorhead in three sets

Colin Canaday and Harris Keekley
November 8, 2019

Following the loss to Eagan Nov. 7, Park volleyball made a comeback in the Minnesota State High School Tournament with a win against Moorhead Nov. 8.

According to coach Whitney Meierotto-Simon, the game against Eagan helped them adjust to the high-stress environment of State.

“We used yesterday’s game as a, ‘hey, it was our first time here — the arena, the fans, the game.’ I mean it was Eagan they are a good opponent.

Meierotto-Simon said she has been training the players to remain positive, regardless of win or loss.

“When I came (Park), we were trying to get rid of all the negativity, all of the negative thoughts. Ultimately, volleyball is a game of errors. If you’re holding on to your errors, then all you’re going to continue to do is make more and more,” Meierotto-Simon said.  “As a coaching staff, we have pushed them to stay positive no matter what because ultimately, you have to forget what had just happened and move on.”

According to senior captain Makaila Winward, the team strives to remain optimistic through difficult points in a match.

“We just focus on one point at a time, and if the point doesn’t go our way, there is always another one right after that,” Winward said. “(We try to) stay in the mindset of, ‘there are more points to play.’”

 

 

Sophomore Liam Rapp was happy with the outcome of the match and thinks Park really allied with Minnetonka.

“It was crazy. I think our chants were a lot more on point today than yesterday because we obviously had more time to practice it. Especially when we moved over to see the Minnetonka and Eagan game, because we connected with Minnetonka,” Rapp said.

Winward said she is happy with the team’s overall performance.

“I don’t think there was a certain point (that defined the match), but we played really scrappy and got a lot of balls up that we don’t normally get up. That made us really excited,” Winward said.

The consolation bracket championship game will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Xcel Energy Center against Lakeville North, currently seeded first in the consolation bracket. According to assistant principal Jessica Busse, the school will not be providing bus transportation to Saturday’s game.

Team advances to State tournament

Colin Canaday and Harris Keekley
November 4, 2019

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.