Top-ranked Papillion-La Vista South showed the defending Class A volleyball state champion it definitely means business this season.

The Titans defeated Omaha Marian 25-13, 25-14 on Saturday in the final of the 16-team Bellevue Invitational. Papio South finished as the tournament runner-up last season to the Crusaders, who went 42-1 and captured the state tournament.

“I don't think it was payback,'' Titans coach Gwen Egbert said. “I just think we were motivated by the fact we came so close to winning this last year.''

It was the first time Papio South has won the Bellevue Invitational, which always lures a strong field. Seven teams entered in the two-day tourney at Bellevue West are ranked in the Nebraska Top 10, and the Titans went 6-0 to take down the title.

“We basically didn't show up for this one,'' Crusaders coach Rochelle Rohlfs said. “We've got a lot of new players and we'll need to learn from this.''

Marian held its only lead in the first set at 1-0 on a block by senior Maggie Emodi. But a kill by Amber Rolfzen -- one of her match-high 15 -- erased that advantage and the Titans took it from there.

The 6-foot-3 Rolfzen had eight kills in that first set and was responsible for five of Papio South's final six points. She had four kills and a block during that stretch to help the Titans finish off the set 25-14.

Marian stayed close for the first half of the second set and tied it at 10-10 on a kill by sophomore Lexi Elman. But a kill by Kelly Hunter, an ace by Rolfzen and a block by Rolfzen's twin sister Kadie put the Titans ahead by three points and the Crusaders couldn't recover.

A 7-0 run later in the set put Papio South in command of the best-of-3 match, and a kill by Kadie Rolfzen eventually ended it.

The Rolfzen twins combined for 21 kills while Hunter added seven.

“It feels really good to win this tournament,'' Amber Rolfzen said. “They're one of our big rivals, but we just tried to focus on playing consistently.''

Egbert said she already is seeing progress from her team since the season-opening match Thursday night against Omaha Burke. The Titans posted a 3-0 sweep but were pushed to 27-25 in the first set.

“We were kind of shaky that night,'' she said. “But our goal is to keep improving, and this tournament title is another step forward.''

Papio South advanced to the final after defeating Papillion-La Vista 25-14, 26-24 in one semifinal. Marian, seeking its fourth Bellevue Invitational crown and third in the past four years, advanced to the championship by defeating Elkhorn 25-19, 25-22.

“It's nice to win this for the first time,'' Egbert said. “Hopefully we're going to have a lot of firsts this season.''

Om. Marian (6-1)...................14 13

Papillion-LVS (7-0)......................25 25

OM (kills-aces-blocks): Lauren Sieckmann 2-0-1, Lexi Elman 2-0-0, Joy Leick 1-0-0, Andrea Spaustat 3-0-0, Maggie Emodi 0-0-1, Maggie Heim 4-0-1.

PLVS: Kadie Rolfzen 9-1-1, Kelly Hunter 7-0-0, Amber Rolfzen 12-2-1, Lillian Schonewise 3-0-0, Rachel Nelson 0-0-1, Bailey Vance 0-2-0.

Set assists: OM 8 (Sieckmann 4, Ashley Jansen 3, Kate Elman 1); PLVS 26 (Kirsten Hudgens 15, Hunter 8, K. Rolfzen 1, Megan Stroyek 1, Vance 1).

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com

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