2011-12 Girls Team of the Year: Papillion-La Vista South volleyball

Fool naysayers once, shame on them.

Fool naysayers twice, no more naysayers.

The Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.) Titans won their second-consecutive MaxPreps mythical national championship with their second-straight undefeated season.

Those who thought the school of 1,500 students outside Omaha, Neb., was something of a fluke last year were seriously mistaken.

They breezed through the 2011 season with even more zeal, losing just four games the entire year. Only two of 41 straight match wins were not by sweep. Their total game count: 99-4.

The Titans' dominance and ability not to rest on their 2010 laurels is a big reason why they are the MaxPreps 2011-12 Female Team of the Year.

"It's great to be known and to be No. 1," junior setter Kelly Hunter said. "We definitely had a big target. Everybody came in and gave us their best shot. But we liked the challenge."

Papillion has now won 82 straight matches and is approaching the state mark of 115, set by Scotus (Columbus, Neb.) in 2002-2004.

Junior outside hitter Amber Rolfzen made no bones after the team's state championship win in November, a 25-15, 25-11, 25-17 triumph over Burke (Omaha): "Our goal is to win a third straight," she told reporters. "But we also want the win streak record."

Burke coach Rick Hughes told ESPNHS after the match he wouldn't wager against the Titans doing both next season.

"I think they could beat a lot of junior colleges," he said.

With five starters returning from the 2010 state-title team, the Titans figured to be strong. Besides Hunter, the team featured the 6-foot-3 Rolfzen twins, Amber and Kadie. Both accepted scholarships to Nebraska before their freshman seasons.

They are both members of the U.S. Girls Youth National Team that competed in the 2011 FIVB Girls Youth World Championships.

Kadie, a first-team MaxPreps All-American, had 402 kills, 382 digs, 53 aces and was the Gatorade State Player of the Year.

Amber was a second-team All-American and had 312 kills, 52 blocks and 289 digs.

Seniors Megan Stroyek, a 5-11 right side hitter and Rachel Nelson, a 6-foot middle, gave the Titans loads of experience and firepower and senior libero Lauren Poulicek provided superior defense. Other key players were 5-11 junior middle blocker Katie Kurtz and 5-7 senior setter Whitney Kostal.

Coach Gwen Egbert has compiled a 644-230 record in her 25-year career. With the twins and Hunter returning next year, the three-peat will be expected by most.

Egbert said: "You can't count on anything. We'll just try to get better."

It's hard to be better than 41-0 and 99-4.

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