For the majority of the Parkland girls volleyball team, the last time they experienced a state win, let alone a state tournament game atmosphere, they were little-used sophomores and freshmen.

That year, in 2012, the Trojans reached the state final. And after failing to reach the PIAA tournament in 2013, the top-ranked team in the state is back where it belongs, and moving towards another state championship.

The Trojans (23-0) took care of Garnet Valley, the third-place team from District 1, by scores of 25-18, 25-7 and 25-13 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs at Nazareth Area High School last Tuesday night.

"I feel that for last year we had to make up for it," said junior Erika Foose on not making states. "We expected more of ourselves and the team so we worked really hard and took every game seriously this year. It's always great making it to states so we just want to keep it going."

The Trojans advance to play Bishop Shanahan, the District 1 runner up, in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Parkland had Tuesday's game in hand much of the time in each game. After Foose sent a spike onto the floor in game one to finish it at 25-18, the Trojans opened a 21-4 advantage in the second segment before Brooke Robertson sealed that one at 25-7. Sam Graver had the decisive hit for the Trojans in the third set.

The front line play of Foose, Robertson, Sam Webber, and Sienna Salvaggio were once again a force to be reckoned with blocking shots and not giving Garnet Valley any clean looks over the net.

"We always think defense first and that's what helps us to score points," said Foose. "We have to focus on finishing and that's our job up front."

Even with all of the hype surrounding the undefeated, No. 1-ranked Parkland volleyball team, the players know that on any given night, they can be knocked off, and they prepare each game like it could be their last.

"We don't think about it. We don't talk about it," said head coach Mike Krause. "We talk about having the opportunity to play. I tell the kids it's a nice honor, but it's not going to score any points."

Salvaggio and Robertson finished with 9 kills and 8 kills respectively, and Webber added 6 kills of her own. Avery Perosa tallied 9 digs and Kristin Krause recorded 28 assists.