Volleyball is no longer only a fall sport in Minnesota. The boys’ season plays in the spring, and next week, the first ever state tournament as a sanctioned sport starts on Tuesday. All eight teams are motivated to win the first one.

One of the teams in the mix is Eastview. The Lightning beat Rochester Mayo in their section title game which clinched their state berth. They will have a shot at being the first ever boys volleyball state championship team with the Minnesota State High School League.

“Very competitive, I think everyone there, everyone who qualified, is going to try to win the first state title,” said Eastview senior Owen Kunisaki. “I’m excited for that.”

Eastview has played 30 matches on the season, and has won 27 of them. The Lightning have yet to lose a single set in the playoffs.

“There’s always the appeal of being number one, going down in the history books as the first team,” said Eastview junior Colin Nathan. “It’s such an honor to be able to witness not only the creation of the sport, but to be so involved in it.”

“It’s going to be full of emotions, but in the end just like a dream come true.” said Eastview junior Jay Thammavongsa about the idea of winning a state title.

The Lightning are coached by Ryan Dehnel.

“To be part of the first one, I know they are excited about, but it will be fun to be there and see the whole thing unfold as well,” Dehnel said.

The entire boys state volleyball tournament will be played at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Click here for more information about the tournament.