The Pumas sand volleyball will enter the playoffs as a top seed after going 11-1 throughout the regular season.

The team will take on Gilbert high school in the first round of the tournament as the number two seeded team in the bracket. “It is an advantage to be a top seed.” head coach Fred Mann said, “You get home court advantage for the first 2 rounds.”

The team enters the bracket as one of the most experienced in the tournament.

“We do have kids who are experienced so hopefully that helps us too.” Mann said, “Experience in beach volleyball, that is a huge thing.”

This year’s team will have a lot of expectations to live up to. Last year’s team was able to run the table and hold up the state championship trophy. The team this year is looking to be able to do the same thing and hang another banner in the gym.

The team finished the season with a record of 11-1 with the lone loss coming to the number 1 ranked Xavier Prep Gators in March.

Throughout the season however the team has been able mature and grow.

“We have managed to solidify their lineup.” Mann said. That solidifying of the lineup has lead to a nine game winning streak and a 2 seed in the playoffs.

That lineup will attempt to become the second team in the history of Perry to win a state championship in back to back years after the Badminton programs’ title earlier this year.

The championship team from last year became the very first four seed to win state in Division I beach volleyball history. That team however consisted of almost all seniors, despite that the team is still experienced.

“We do have kids who are experienced so hopefully that helps us.” Mann said, “Experience in beach volleyball, that’s a huge thing.”

The Pumas will take on the Gilbert Tigers in the first round on Apr. 23rd. That matchup will begin the gauntlet that is the playoffs with the Pumas hoping they will be set up in the state title match on May 2nd.

The team is earning all these coveted accomplishments and yet still do not have a court to call their own. The team plays their home games down the road at Casteel High School just like a lot of the teams competing in Division I for sand volleyball.

The road to repeat will get underway with a first round matchup against the fifteenth seeded Gilbert Tigers.