This Mount Pulaski volleyball team has more losses than any of the 15 other teams playing at the state tournament this weekend. And the 14 losses is the most of any of the 10 previous Hilltopper teams that made it to state under coach Donna Dulle.

Some of those losses came in tournaments near St. Louis and Chicago, tournaments that featured teams which made big runs in the Class 3A and 4A portion of the brackets.

"We may not win the match, but we'd win a game. And that shows us we do have the potential to beat schools," junior Kassi Schmidt said. "It makes us so much better. They're bigger schools, and they have more to choose from. To compete at that level, it makes us work harder. It improves us."

Those losses forged a team tough enough to win its last three playoff matches despite losing the first game. And they're a big reason why the Hilltoppers will kick off this weekend's state tournament with a 9:30 a.m. match against Deer Creek-Mackinaw.

Matches can tend to run together throughout the course of a volleyball season, but Dulle clearly remembers a victory over Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge at the Glenbard East Tournament as a turning point.

"We came back knowing what we needed to work on. Something about going up there and playing with these big schools, it gave us some confidence," Dulle said.

The Toppers were 15-12 at that point. They have only lost twice since then, including comeback victories over Tri-County, LSA and Jacksonville Routt.

"When they came over, They just acted like (losing the first game to Routt) wasn't a problem," Dulle said. They were like, 'It's no big deal. That's why you play three.' "

Mount Pulaski is familiar with the state tournament. Dee-Mack isn't. The Chiefs won their first sectional and super-sectional title this season, and they were primarily untested until Alexis United pushed them to three games in the super-sectional.

"That win was huge for us," Dee-Mack coach Jennifer Mallicoat said. "And it's kind of nice to face a team we haven't played before. It was the second time we've seen Hartsburg-Emden (in the regional final), and our third match against Lexington (in the sectional final). It's nice to see some new competition, and it brought a new level of play to us."

Mallicoat, like her players, has done her best to stay patient this week.

"I'm just hoping I can get through. I teach first grade, and they keep me on my toes," Mallicoat said. "It will just be nice to focus on the girls and what we have to do (this) morning."

Schmidt admitted there were jitters in Monday's super-sectional, in which the Toppers were fortunate enough to play at home.

It's a safe bet those jitters will be there again today.

"It just has to sink in. You get those first two points, then it has to get out of your system, and you have to focus," Schmidt said.

After this tumultuous season, focus hasn't been a problem.

Todd Engle can be reached at tengle@herald-review.com or 421-7970.