Another outstanding boys’ volleyball season

For the third consecutive year, the boys of the Como Park volleyball team qualified and competed in the Minnesota High School Volleyball Association Tournament. 

After compiling a regular season record of 12-2, the Cougars were seeded No. 11 for the 16-team state tournament. Compared to the taller players from larger schools, the Cougars did not initially strike fear or offer visual intimidation in the eyes of opponents. 

That changed after the Cougars upset the No. 6 seed Eagan Wildcats in the first round. The scrappy Como squad came from behind to defeat their suburban foe 3-2, winning the fifth and final set convincingly.

Como head coach Koob Lee, a 2019 Como graduate who has already completed three seasons of varsity coaching resulting in three trips to the state tournament, praised his team’s effort.

“Going into state we were very undersized,” Lee said. “The best thing we could do against these taller teams is what we do best – digging balls to extend points, hustling, doing our assignments on defense in terms of blocking, getting to the right position against certain attackers, and then continuing to attack smart and aggressively on the offensive end.”

That strategy continued to keep Como competitive in the quarterfinal round where they found themselves facing off against the No. 3 seed Spring Lake Park. The Cougars surprised their larger opponents once again, capturing the first set 25-22. The favored Panthers squad made adjustments and turned the tables defeating Como 3-1 in four sets.

The boys’ state volleyball tourney features consolation rounds after a team loses, which meant Como had a chance to regroup and take on Eden Prairie who was the No. 7 seed. In another match that Como was not expected to win, the Cougars prevailed. That upset led to the Cougars’ final match of the season for the consolation championship versus No. 5 seed Maple Grove.

Once again, Como was the underdog - David versus another proverbial Goliath. In the end, Maple Grove won the battle in five entertaining and dramatic sets. Both teams earned each other’s respect as the season concluded with trophy presentations, and the Cougars collecting the sixth-place prize.

Senior Baw Reh and junior Soe Reh were both selected to the state all-tournament team. They also both earned all-conference honors along with seniors Phray Reh and Kwai Lay Lo. Those seniors have been crucial to Como’s success in building a highly successful program in high school club volleyball.

Coach Lee is quick to credit the team effort involved, not just for Como but the growth of the sport through the club association. “They’ve done an amazing job to make volleyball possible for boys across the state. And our athletic director Koua Yang and assistant A.D. Brandon Kuether are supportive in every way.”

 

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) will officially sanction boys’ volleyball in the next school year.