RAPID CITY – Sioux Valley dropped a five-set heart-breaker to Belle Fourche to open the Class A State Volleyball Tournament on Thursday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
The third-seeded Broncs (31-3) prevailed by the set scores of 25-17, 16-25, 24-26, 25-23 and 15-12.
“The match was a battle,” said Cossack coach Jill Vincent. “It was intense, but we just couldn’t put together a run late in the match to give us the momentum back.
“Belle Fourche is a tough team; give them credit for going out and getting the win down the stretch.”
Sierra Ward tallied a match-high 34 kills and added a service ace for Belle Fourche.
Mandee Williamson contributed 17 kills, two aces and a block.
Ashley Byrd contributed seven kills and 1 1/2 blocks (one solo).
Payson Birkeland guided the offense with 50 set assists and Emma Singer paced the defense with 18 digs.
For Sioux Valley, Nikole Ziegler ended up with 18 kills, two aces and 15 digs.
Lynsey Stevens had 14 kills, three aces, two blocks and six digs.
Miakken Vincent chipped in with nine kills, an ace and six digs.
Brynn Tvedt added four kills, an ace, a block and eight digs.
Rachel Miller guided the offense with 37 set assists and also contributed a block assist 10 digs.
Bethany Rennich came up with nine digs, adding a block assist and three set assists.
“Tomorrow will be a new day and we have to put our loss behind us and get back on track,” Vincent added. “I am proud of the way the girls played tonight. They left it on the court. I am sure tomorrow they will give their best effort.”
Top-seeded Sioux Falls Christian (29-4), Madison (26-4) and defending-champion Dakota Valley (27-3) also advanced to semifinal action.
Sixth-seeded Sioux Valley (25-5) takes on Big East Conference foe and seventh-seeded Parker (25-7) in a consolation semifinal today at 2:45 p.m.
• Sioux Falls Christian 3, McCook Central/Montrose 1
The Chargers, who have won five of the past seven titles, won by the set scores of 25-19, 25-18, 28-30 and 25-18.
Ellie Voss totaled 17 kills, 1 1/2 blocks, a service ace and seven digs to lead the way.
Kylee Van Egdom added 12 kills, an ace and 18 digs.
Emma Dorhout totaled six kills, four aces and 19 digs.
Samantha Fykstra dished out 41 set assists and came up with nine digs while also contributed a pair of kills and two aces. Emily Strasser tallied a team-best 21 digs.
For the Fighting Cougars (19-9), Morgan Koepsell finished with seven kills, three blocks and an ace. Aleah Ries and McKenna Kranz both notched eight kills. Ries also had 17 digs and Harley Miles 16.
• Madison 3, Miller 1
The Lady Bulldogs posted a 25-17, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22 victory.
Olivia Rud led the charge with 20 kills, two blocks and an ace.
Jessi Giles chipped in with 18 kills, a block assist and 19 digs. Nicole Brown posted seven kills.
Shania Schwebach guided the offense with 48 set assists. Morgan Anderson had 14 digs and Jenni Giles 11.
For the Rustlers (25-5), Kadye Fernholz finished with 17 kills, 2 1/2 blocks and 16 digs. Annie Keeter, Josi Stevens and Karly Beckett each added seven kills. Beckett and Kassie Schaefers both notched 10 digs.
• Dakota Valley 3, Parker 0
The Panthers opened defense of their title with a 25-16, 25-12, 25-18 defeat of the Pheasants.
Meredith Lammers had 15 kills, a block assist and 11 digs to lead a balanced Dakota Valley offense.
Elizabeth Lammers added eight kills, an ace and block assist. Nikita Reinschmidt totaled five kills, an ace and a block. Jensyn Younger and Madisyn Heeren both had six kills and a block assist.
Ally Beresford dished out 38 set assists. Alyssa Johnson notched 12 digs.
The Pheasants got seven kills from Hannah Viet and six by Raelin Jurgens.
