Bishop Miege Volleyball Program adds 30th State Title to Historic Tradition

With 30 State Championships as the most decorated volleyball program in Kansas history, Bishop Miege has set a standard of excellence unmatched by any school.  

Bishop Miege volleyball has reached another milestone, adding its 30th State Championship to a tradition unmatched by any other high school volleyball program in Kansas. With the 2026 Class 4A title, the Stags continue to set the standard across all classifications, building on a legacy that dates back nearly five decades.

Miege defeated Andale in three sets, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20, in Saturday’s championship match to claim the title. The Stags opened the State tournament with a 2-1 record in pool play, earning victories over Paola and McPherson before sweeping Clay Center, 25-22, 25-15, in the semifinals.

A historic volleyball tradition

The championship marks the fifth State Title for head coach Lindsay Zych Franco, who has now won four out of five as the head coach at Bishop Miege and one at Lansing in 2021. Miege first captured a volleyball State Championship in 1977 and has qualified for the State tournament in 47 of the past 50 seasons.

With 30 titles, Miege continues its dominance as the most decorated Kansas high school volleyball program. Lawrence and Wheatland/Grinnell are the next closest, with 16 State Championships each.

“To capture the 30th State Title in a program built on such a rich tradition surrounded by a community that is truly one-of-a-kind is something I will never take for granted,” Coach Lindsay Franco said. “I’m so proud of this team, this program, and what it means to be a Stag.”

The Stags’ championship effort was also recognized with three All-Tournament selections: senior setter Maryn Dean, junior libero Mayley Morrison, and freshman outside hitter Cori Redmond.

A championship built on preparation

For Dean, the championship was the culmination of four years of growth and playing alongside teammates who have become family.

“We prepared all of Friday, and we were coming into Saturday thinking, ‘We have to be on our A game.’ This is the last time we’re going to play together. We have to finish strong,” Dean said.

The Stags carried that preparation into the semifinals against Clay Center, earning a two-set victory. Against Andale, they faced a familiar challenge after struggling against the team’s blocking earlier in the tournament.

Dean said what stands out in the championship game to her was the efforts of the hitters.

“I honestly was so proud of them, and especially for Tessa (Redmond). She had worked so hard this entire season to get one of those hitting spots, and she filled in really well when Liv (Stevens) was hurt,” Dean said. “She was really strong for us this last weekend and especially in that championship game. I knew I could trust her to go get a kill.”

Dean said she was also impressed with how the middles adjusted throughout the championship match.

“They did such a good job adjusting to every single thing that we were talking about, and that was honestly probably the biggest thing that I keep thinking back about,” she said.

Finishing strong for their seniors

Junior libero Mayley Morrison also saw the team’s growth throughout the tournament. After a competitive semifinal against Clay Center, the Stags knew they needed to stay composed and consistent, even when their opponent applied pressure. That mindset carried into the championship against Andale.

As the team headed into the deciding third set, Morrison said the players knew they wanted to finish strong for their senior teammates.

“Going into the third set, we knew it was our last set together,” Morrison said. “Liv (Stevens) and Maryn (Dean) had given so much to our team that we just knew we had to show up for them, so we really just left it all out there.”

The championship weekend also included a personal milestone for Dean, who reached 3,000 career assists on Thursday.

“That was really exciting because I had been preparing for it all four years,” she said. “I got to 2,000 my junior year, and I was like, ‘Well, if I can get 2,000, I can get 3,000. So my goal coming into this season was to get 3,000, and I’m really happy that I was able to.”

The Stags also had plenty of support along the way. For the first time in several years, students traveled to State on a spirit bus, giving the team a student section to cheer them on.

“Everybody else always has huge student sections, and we’ve never had that before, so just getting to feel comfortable, kind of like a home game, how it would be having people there to cheer you on, was really nice,” Morrison said.

As the final set unfolded, Morrison said the team recognized the significance of the moment and the opportunity in front of them.

“All of us looking at each other and realizing where we were and what we had to do, I think that was special, and all of us kind of had this moment of ‘We’re going to do this, and we’re not going to lose,’ and that’s what we did,” she said.

30 State Championships built upon a tradition of family and support

For Dean, finishing her senior season with a State Championship was a fitting end to four years in the Miege volleyball family. She said the connections between teams and the support from the Miege community are what make the program so special.

“Coach Zych does a really good job about building family and building connections between all the teams,” Dean said. “So once one team wins a game, it’s a win for everyone in the program, and that’s a big thing, the big family aspect. It’s really cool to see all the support that we get from former students and our friends at school. That’s probably the biggest thing about Miege volleyball, just how much of a tradition and honor it is.”

With its 30th State Title, Bishop Miege added another chapter to a tradition that spans generations, one that continues to bring the Stag community together.

Congratulations to our 2026 State Champions, the Bishop Miege volleyball team!