Bismarck Century volleyball adds another state title thanks to team chemistry and senior leadership
BISMARCK, N.D. (BVM) — Bismarck Century girls volleyball finished another impressive season with a state championship after beating Bismarck High in three straight sets. It was the Patriots’ second in a row and seventh in the last 11 years. They have made the state championship every season during that span.
It was a thrilling way to end the season as Bismarck High was the only team to beat Century this year and the all–Bismarck state championship was held in Bismarck for the first time ever.
“I looked up during warmups of the championship game this year,” Century head coach Jamie Zastoupil said. “I looked up and it gave me chills.”
The packed house then got to watch a thrilling state championship in which the two Bismarck teams battled it out in the first two sets before the Patriots won the final set 25-12.
In the first set it was tied 18-18 before Century went on a 7-1 run and in the second set the Patriots won 25-22. But even during these close moments, Century was able to step up to the occasion.
“Something that we have talked about all year is really staying in the moment and being present with each point,” Zastoupil said. “I thought our girls did a really good job postseason, both West Region and the state tournament, of being able to do that.”
Along with staying in the moment, the Patriots could rely on each other as Zastoupil said their team chemistry was a huge part of the success Century had this year.
“I think this group just really thrived off the chemistry and they really just loved to be around each other,” Zastoupil said.
It was a group of girls that would hang out after practice, go to football games together and enjoyed being with each other. Although they were deadly serious once on the court, they were also pranksters and loved to have fun.
Zastoupil recalled one prank in which one of the girls hid in a ball cart while the rest of the girls asked an assistant coach to go and get the cart. When the coach got over to the cart, the girl jumped up, scaring the coach and bringing everyone else to the floor in a fit of laughter, including Zastoupil who couldn’t help but laugh when recounting the story.
The fun environment and strong team chemistry allowed this team to overcome losing six seniors from last year’s team while featuring a starting line up that had little varsity experience.
“I don’t think this team was looked at as a real contender really early on,” Zastoupil said.
However, that opinion did not last long. The eight seniors on the team stepped up and with juniors Logan Nissley and Claire Bauman, the Patriots quickly showed they could be contenders. For Zastoupil, it was their first tournament of the season that showed her that this group could make a deep run into the postseason.
Missing key contributors, the Patriots went undefeated which wasn’t something they did often. It showed the team’s depth and ability to overcome adversity together, something that this group of seniors has plenty of experience doing.
“They worked for everything,” Zastoupil said. “It was a group that really fought each step of the way to become better whether it was in season or out of season.”
It was a group of seniors that worked their way from the freshman team all the way to varsity and finally got their chance to start as seniors, girls like Macy Fridgen and Delani Clarke who received first team and second team all-state honors, respectively.
They led the Patriots to a 37-2 record and another state title, adding their own mark to the history of Century volleyball while setting up their teammates for another good season next year.
“I think we’ll look pretty good next year,” Zastoupil said.
