Lakeville South assistant coach Kevin Boysen has presented Cougars players with small items prior to every postseason game this fall. Ahead of the Cougars’ section final victory over Lakeville North, it was a keychain with a target.
The reminder: As the defending state champions, you always have a target on your back.
Lakeville South outside hitter Jada Johnson (8) tries to block a shot by Roseville Area outside hitter Sam Bloomquist (1) during the Class 4A girls volleyball semifinals of the State Volleyball Tournament at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Thursday, Nov. 06, 2025. Lakeville South won in 3-0 sets. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)
Lakeville South has seen the best that all comers have had to offer all season. The only way to combat it was for the Cougars to play their best game, as well. Don’t back down from a challenge — take it head on.
With its back against the wall in Thursday’s Class 4A state semifinal, Roseville delivered its best blow. Trailing 2-0 in the match and 11-6 in the third set, the Raiders went on a 15-6 run to seize control and move to within four points of forcing a fourth set.
During one of Lakeville South’s timeouts amid the Raiders’ run, Boysen noted the Cougars were in control, but that they had to “bring it all” to finish the match.
That’s what they did.
Lakeville South won eight of the set’s final nine points to complete the sweep. The Cougars will get a chance to defend their title in the championship bout at 7 p.m. Saturday in St. Paul.
“We knew all season we had to work hard,” junior setter Kaelyn Bjorklund said. “Our coaches held us very accountable to always be communicating, always have energy. Because it always comes down to practice. You practice how you’re going to play. Every tournament, every game, we’ve just always brought our best. We try to excel every game.”
The Cougars delivered again Thursday. Their execution was pristine and seemed to put Roseville on its heels. The Raiders entered the semifinal as winners of 13 straight matches, but they dropped the first set, 25-12. It wasn’t until the third set that Roseville (24-8) truly resembled the team it’s been all season.
“We are so tough and gritty, and I think to start off we were so well prepared and we had a mindset, and I just think we lost a little bit of our special sauce, our oomph that makes us who we are,” Roseville coach Greg Ueland said. “We talk about responding all the time, and it just took us so long to respond.
“And then when you’re in that situation, especially against an amazing team like Lakeville South, you have to work that much harder mentally, physically and emotionally. I think that took a big toll on us. But our absolute grit, that’s who we are. I knew they would stay fighting.”
Ueland noted the fourth-seeded Raiders had to “terminate” more balls to score Thursday against Lakeville South’s daunting defense. They did so by mixing up shots at the net and cranking up the energy another notch to win more of the relentless rallies Lakeville South claimed earlier in the match.
“All of us really wanted it so bad,” Raiders junior middle blocker Sophia Gholson-Johnson said, “so we had to push that little more.”
But Lakeville South (30-3) was ready for that, as well. The top-seeded Cougars cited “really hard” practices all season as what helped prepare them for such situations in high-pressure environments.
“Now that we’re here, the work finally paid off and it’s all worth it in the end,” senior right-side hitter Jada Johnson said. “I’m glad that they take it so seriously.”
Lakeville South’s Amanda Cullen (11) celebrates after defeating Roseville Area in 3-0 sets during the Class 4A girls volleyball semifinals of the State Volleyball Tournament at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Thursday, Nov. 06, 2025. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)
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