RAPID CITY – Sioux Valley ended up in sixth place at the Class A State Volleyball Tournament after falling 27-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22 to McCook Central/Montrose on Saturday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
“Today’s match was a tough one on us physically,” said Cossack coach Jill Vincent. “We played so many points in the first two matches after going five sets in each, and that took a toll on us.
“Today, it took us a while to get going and our passing was not what it should have been in order for us to attack on offense enough to get going on a run.
“The team played as hard as they could but when we thought we had caught a break in the match and cleared a lead, MCM came right back. We gave them too many free balls and allowed them to be comfortable hitting the ball. They played very well today.
“The Big East Conference was well represented here this year (Parker was the other qualifier in Class A, plus Chester Area in Class B).”
Lynsey Stevens had 12 kills, a service ace, a block assist and 11 digs for Sioux Valley.
Nikole Ziegler, who was named to the all-tournament team, added 12 kills and 26 digs.
Rachel Miller totaled 28 set assists, two kills, two blocks (one solo) and 14 digs.
Bryn Tvedt finished with four kills and 13 digs.
Miakken Vincent contributed a kill, a block and nine digs.
Bethany Rennich chipped in with a kill, a block assist and eight digs.
It marked the final match in a Cossack uniform for Miller, Rennich, Stevens, Tvedt and Ziegler.
“The five seniors have put in hours of work and dedication to Sioux Valley volleyball,” Vincent added. “Their success these past three years is showcased with their state tournament appearances and postseason honors.
“They will leave very big shoes to fill but have shown the underclassmen that it takes players who are fully committed to the sport to succeed. They’re great volleyball players and people.”
Sioux Valley wrapped up the year with a 26-6 record. The Cossacks were making their third consecutive state tourney appearance and fifth in the past six years.
The Fighting Cougars (21-9), who were in the state tourney for the first time, got 14 kills, three aces and 2 1/2 blocks (two solo) from McKenna Kranz. Morgan Koepsell had 15 kills and three solo blocks. Jacy Pulse pitched in with 10 kills, two aces and two blocks (one solo). Aleah Ries recorded 10 kills.
Emily Bies (28) and Hayley Miles (22) combined for 50 set assists. Harley Miles and Ries both notched 19 digs.
Championship
• Sioux Falls Christian 3, Dakota Valley 2
The top-seeded Chargers (31-4) edged the defending-champion Panthers (28-4) by the set scores of 25-13, 19-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-13.
Ellie Voss had 22 kills, three aces and 1 1/2 blocks in the win.
Kylee Van Egdom contributed 17 kills, an ace, a block assist and 15 digs
Grace Perrenoud added nine kills, two aces and a block.
Samantha Fykstra guided the offense with 50 set assists and added 10 digs. Emily Strasser came up with 12 digs and Emma Dorhout 10.
Dakota Valley’s Meredith Lammers had 17 kills, 1 1/2 blocks and 12 digs. Nikita Reinschmidt added 14 kills and a block. Elizabeth Lammers finished with 10 kills, a block assist and 16 digs.
Ally Beresford had 47 set assists and Alyssa Johnson notched 23 digs.
Sioux Falls Christian was making its 21st state tourney appearance all-time, including 11th in a row.
The Chargers, upset by Madison in the first round a year ago, won their sixth title in nine years. They swept the Panthers in the 2012 final.
SFC is not 7-4 in title matches, including a 7-2 mark in Class A.
Dakota Valley dropped to 2-2 in finals – all of which have come since 2012.
Note: Sioux Falls Christian did not drop a match against an in-state opponent. The Chargers lost all their match in Iowa to Iowa opponents – twice to Western Christian on Sept. 9 in Orange City and once to Seargeant Bluff-Luton on Sept. 23 in Sioux Center. … The Chargers beat the Panthers all three times they faced off this year.
Third place
• Madison 3, Belle Fourche 0
The fourth-seeded Lady Bulldogs (27-5) swept the fourth-seeded Broncs (31-5) 25-23, 25-17, 25-23.
Olivia Rud had 12 kills, 1 1/2 blocks (solo) and an ace. Jessi Giles added 11 kills and two aces. Shania Schwebach dished out 33 set assists and came up with nine digs.
Belle Fourche’s Sierra Ward had 14 kills and a solo block.
Seventh place
• Miller 3, Parker 2
The Rustlers (26-6) beat the Pheasants (25-9) 17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 16-14.
Kadye Fernholz had 26 kills, 3 1/2 blocks (one solo) and 19 digs in the win. Rachel Oligmueller tallied 50 set assists.
For Parker, Hannah Viet had 22 kills, Raelin Jurgens 19 and Grace Leberman 18.
