Cheryl Malm is taking practically an all-new team to the Class 5A State Volleyball Tournament that gets under way Friday at the Topeka Expocentre.

Only Lauren Russell and Ashley Sweat were regulars last year when McPherson High brought a 38-1 record in, only to be eliminated in pool play.

Seven seniors graduated from that marvelous 39-3 team and this was thought to be a rebuilding year.

But the Bullpup program has evolved to the point where a strong group of junior varsity players moved up and blended in with Russell and Sweat to fashion a 31-7 record and berth in the Elite Eight.

The Bullpups will rise and shine on Friday, as they play Blue Valley West at 9:30 a.m., Arkansas City at 11:30 and then in what may determine their fate, a match at 12:30 p.m. against old rival Newton. The top two teams advance to Saturday's Final Four.

Malm admitted she thought the Bullpups received about as good a draw as they could, as she doesn't have to burn up the phone lines for scouting reports on Arkansas City and Newton since they have played them this year.

And it doesn't hurt the team is opposite of perennial state qualifiers Kapaun, Miege and Shawnee Heights, who are joined by Seaman in the other half of the bracket.

“It's a good draw, but we'll have to play well (to advance),” Malm said. “Blue Valley West is big and strong, and hits the ball really well. Their schedule is stacked. There's not an easy team on their schedule.”

West is only 24-13, but what caught Malm's attention was that it knocked out St. Thomas Aquinas, a team many thought was going to win it all before the sub-state tournaments began.

MHS defeated Arkansas City in three games earlier this year. “They play phenomenal defense and they tend to frustratate you,” Malm said. “Your hitters sometimes wonder if they can get anything past them.”

MHS lost to Newton in three games. “Newton has been here before,” Malm said. “We've got to play good defense against them. They've got experience and they have their eye on going far.”

Malm said while Russell and Sweat are the only players with any state time from last year, Brette Ulsaker played two years ago on a state team, while Abby Ratlief and Katie Clark made the trip last year and have taken in the Expocentre atmosphere. Malm said Jordi James, a key sub on last year's state championship basketball team, also knows the Expocentre and that should help her. Savannah Thomas, Amanda McDaniel and Samantha Thomas are other players in the rotation.

Malm admits this year has caught her somewhat by surprise. By going 31-7 -- and winning 16 matches in a row -- the Bullpups are now 70-10 over the last two years. She said the team has continued to get better as the year's gone along and anything now is gravy, since not many in the “volleyball know” expected the Bullpups to be making a fourth straight state trip.

McPherson Unified School District 418
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