Eden Prairie completes epic comeback to capture first boys volleyball state title

Down two sets to none in the inaugural Minnesota State High School League boys volleyball championship, the top-seeded Eagles stared down elimination.

“In our last timeout to end the third set, we talked about not giving up, getting one point at a time and trusting our team and skills,” head coach Steph Chapek said.

With a roaring crowd assisting, the Eagles engineered a stunning reverse sweep, winning the next three sets to seal Eden Prairie’s place in history Thursday night at St. Thomas’ Schoenecker Arena.

The Eagles’ 21-25, 19-25, 27-25, 25-20, 15-9 victory over Rogers delivered the first-ever MSHSL-sanctioned title in boys volleyball, completing what Chapek called “one of the greatest matches I have been a part of in my whole playing and coaching career.”

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The championship seemed unlikely after Rogers rallied from deficits to win the opening sets. But the Eagles found their rhythm midway through the third set behind senior Avi Kommalapati’s 19 kills and senior Gabriel Hernandez’s 16. The turning point came when Eden Prairie fended off two match points to steal the crucial third set 27-25.

“It was intense to defend off two match points, but winning that third set gave us the confidence boost we needed going into sets four and five,” Chapek explained. The dramatic swing fired up the loud Eden Prairie crowd that packed the arena.

“I was so excited to see all of the EPHS students come through and show up,” said senior captain Deion Lange. “Having them there made it more like a home game than anything else. It was not just the students who showed up, we had family, friends, and EPHS Staff all over the gym supporting us the whole game.”

The Eagles’ composure under pressure showed the chemistry built over years of playing together. They entered the tournament as the top seed, and even as Rogers kept battling back throughout the match, Eden Prairie stuck to their defensive game and stayed together as a team.

“We are a great team in all sense of the word team,” Chapek said. “The players genuinely like and care for each other on and off the court. The group has been playing together for a few years now and they know each other well. We don’t need to freak out when things get tough.”

The team culture stems from Chapek’s leadership approach, according to players. “Coach Steph has very high expectations for her team, always believing we can do better,” Lange said. “Her ability to coach all 16 players during practice, keeping everyone involved, shows why she is a true leader. Before each state tournament game, Coach Steph encouraged the team to do some form of bonding or hang out together. She understands how important strong team chemistry and good relationships on the court are.”

Beyond the comeback victory, Chapek emphasized the moment’s broader significance.

“Our whole program is so grateful for the opportunities this season,” Chapek reflected. “It was so much work to get it sanctioned, and so many great people from the last four to five years helped build boys volleyball to this point. It’s such an honor to play this season – and to top it off with the state title is beyond special.”

Three Eagles earned All-Tournament Team honors: senior captains Hardhik (Avi) Kommalapati and Deion Lange, along with junior Ghauthamasankar Padmanaban.