There’s an undeniable sensation in the air; maybe it’s the cooler weather, and the leaves falling, but there’s a more concrete reason for it.

Gator volleyball.

The Gators are pushing for their first bid to state since the school opened back in 2004, and as explained by sophomore middle hitter Lauren McKernan, “We’re ready.” McKernan explains the team’s mentality rolling into the postseason; “Confidence is going to be very important,” she says. “We have a really good team 

chemistry, and everybody wants it and that’s obvious.” McKernan describes the team as “scrappy and passionate”. North Star is no stranger to adversity, so it’s no surprise the Navigators have such a strong mindset coming into Wednesday’s match against Westview. If the Gators win over the wolverines, they play Grand Island High School for a shot at a spot in state. “We’re focused on changing the narrative,” the middle explains. “We’re all in.”  There’s a solid sense of confidence among the players, who build off of each other every match and practice. “If we can execute well, I’d say we have a pretty good shot at state,” she explains. North Star is 1-1 with the Islanders this season, but the Navigators are sure in their abilities as a team to succeed. It’d be an understatement to say that a state bid, no matter the seed, would be North Star history.

This young team thrives off of a balanced offense and their faith and belief in each other, which has pushed them through 5 set wins and tough losses; they stick together through it all. As Wednesday draws nearer, the Navigators only grow stronger in their abilities and mentality. Scraped and scarred throughout this season, this batch of Gators are true warriors. They’ve never backed away from a challenge, and charge into their battles headfirst with no second thought. They really are an electric team to watch, and keeping an eye on them during districts would definitely be of your best interest. At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite like Gator volleyball.