After a clean sweep of the MCAL, North Coast Section and Division 1 State tournaments a year ago, the Branson Bulls volleyball team is hungry to repeat their magic this year. 

After a dominating performance this year in the MCAL playoffs, where they defeated Redwood 25-8, 25-15, and 25-14 to win the MCAL title, and a dominant performance in NCS D2, they came into the state tournament looking to keep their momentum going. 

“We set the tone of each match by playing really fast and precise offense and going all-out on defense,” said libero Dylan Whisenant ‘24.

Branson comes into the state playoffs riding a 14-game win streak, dropping just two sets during those games. Their team chemistry has proved crucial to their recent success.

“I think what makes this team so special is the amount of love we have for each other and the game,” said Whisenant. 

Coming into the tournament as the five seed, the Bulls quickly proved they were worthy of a higher seed in a dominant 3-0 victory against fourth-seed Sacred Heart.

“We came out strong and with a lot of energy and didn’t let our foot off the gas or give them any momentum,” said middle Cayman Stein ‘24. “We were completely focused and all shared the same drive and desire to win. We’re looking to keep the energy going against Mitty.”

That relentless energy and drive have been the catalyst to the Bulls’ 28-7 record on the season. They are looking to avenge their first-round Open division loss to Archbishop Mitty from two years ago. Mitty enters the tournament as the one seed, and Branson faces them Nov. 11. 

“I’m so excited to compete in the Open division —  especially against Mitty who we’ve been neck and neck with. I think the most recent time we’ve played them was at the Las Vegas tournament and we finally beat them and that just gives us more momentum going into this game” Stein said. 

The team has already made it further than any Branson team has in the Open division, and have the potential to win the whole thing. They are building a dominant program, where hard work and discipline is the staple. 

“Our ability to stay consistent throughout both practices and games is what led us to our victory. We put in a lot of hard work to get where we are now and need to continue putting our all into practices and fighting hard during games,” Stein said. 

The team works and plays hard, but the team chemistry pushes them over the top. 

“Our team camaraderie and dynamic is what makes us special. We all love each other and it really shows on the court,” she said.