Boys Volleyball 2025: Eden Prairie storms back to win inaugural state championship

All future Minnesota State High School League Boys Volleyball state championship matches have a high standard to meet. The original will be tough to match.

Top-seeded Eden Prairie stormed back from a 2-0 deficit, staving off a pair of match points and rallying to beat No. 3 seed Rogers, 3-2 (21-25, 19-25, 27-25, 25-20, 15-9) to close the Minnesota State High School League's 2025 Boys Volleyball State Tournament on Thursday at Schoenecker Arena on the University of St. Thomas campus.

"This has been our team all year. Heart and grit," Eden Prairie Coach Steph Chapek said. "They showed their true colors today."

Khatvik Kommalapati smashed five kills in the decisive fifth set, Hardhik Kommalapati three, including match point. Hardhik Kommalapati led the Eagles with 19 kills in the match.

Grant Anderson totaled a match-high 25 kills for Rogers, including six in the opening set. The Royals trailed 9-1 to begin the second, but rallied to tie it at 15 and scored seven of the final nine points.

Rogers was serving for match point at 24-23 and 25-24 but the Eagles fought back, first with a Danys Kolesnyk kill, then taking advantage of a service error and forcing a fourth set with a Rogers attack error.

"These guys were just like, 'we're not losing,'" Chapek said. "Took that game and then could just feel the momentum coming."

Senior setter Deion Lange, who had 41 assists in the match, said pressure situations in practice had the Eagles prepared when the lights shined brightest.

"We were comfortable in this spot," he said. "We go through this every single day at practice. We knew exactly what was happening. We've been there a million times before. We always seem to come out strong and happy. We love playing with each other."

Eastview topped Eden Prairie, 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15) in the third-place game. St. Paul Central won the consolation final over North St. Paul, 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10).