Aberdeen Central rallies past Yankton; Northwestern wins tourney at Wessington Springs
SIOUX FALLS — Top-rated Class B Warner defeated top-rated Class A Sioux Falls Christian twice to win its bracket in the Sanford Pentagon Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.
The Monarchs (21-0) posted 2-0 wins over Huron (25-15, 25-11), Sioux Falls O'Gorman (25-20, 25-14), Gretna East, Neb. (25-23, 25-21) and Sioux Falls Christian (25-11, 25-22) before downing Christian again 2-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-22) in the bracket championship.
Tourney leaders for the Monarchs included Ava Nilsson, 114 assists and six block assists; Kyra Marcuson, 33 kills included the 1,000th of her career; Libby Scepaniak, 55-55 serving; Lauren Marcuson, 30 kills and 37 digs) and Kyleigh Schopp, eight block assists).
Hitchcock-Tulare (15-4) went 3-0 in pool play with 2-0 wins over Hanson (25-9, 25-21), Canistota (25-20, 25-16) and Webster Area (25-14, 27-14) before falling to Ethan 2-0 (25-22, 25-19) in the bracket semifinals.
Katelyn Schroeder recorded 28 kills and more than 29 digs, Ella Johnson more than 17 kills, Lila Johnson, 58 assists and six aces; Gracyn Bixler, 15 assists; Cambree Hoekman, 26-plus digs; and Isabel Gilbert two solo and six block assists led Hitchcock-Tulare in the tourney.
Florence-Henry (11-5) also went 3-0 in pool play before falling to Parkston 2-0 (25-12, 25-20) in the bracket semifinals. The Falcons won 2-0 over Winner (25-22, 25-23), Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (25-19, 25-10) and Freeman (30-28, 25-9).
Caylin Kelly recorded 59 kills and eight solo and eight block assists, Taylor Watson 29 kills and 47 digs, Ashlynn Vavruska 47 assists, Kaija Gusso 33 assists and Elizabeth Reiter seven block assists for the Falcons in the tourney.
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (6-9) went 1-3 in the tourney, beating Freeman 2-0 (25-19, 25-19) and losing 2-0 to Gayville-Volin (25-14, 25-21), Winner (25-19, 25-14) and Florence-Henry (25-19. 25-10). Emily Matson made 32 assists; Rylan Pearson 25 assists; Julia Trygstad 26 kills, six blocks and 26-plus digs, Alivia Bickett, 13-plus kills and 28-plus digs; Camlin Schneider 13-plus kills; and Kailey Pearson 15-plus digs for the Raiders in the tourney.
Other area teams in the tourney included Florence-Henry, Milbank, Webster Area, Mobridge-Pollock and Elkton-Lake Benton. Complete results were not reported.
Aberdeen Central 3, Yankton 2
ABERDEEN — Aberdeen Central dropped the first two sets before rallying for the 21-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-19 Eastern South Dakota Conference win.
The Golden Eagles improved to 8-3 on the season.
Sawyer Bain went 20-22 serving with four aces, Ayrlie Waldo 19-21 serving with 33 assists and Emma Dohrer 14-15 with 14 assists for Aberdeen Central. Grace Kuch made 23 kills and two solo blocks, Lauryn Burckhard 21 kills, Ashely Wangler six kills and one solo and two block assists and Kenadi Withers five kills.
Spartan Invitational
WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Third-rated Class B Northwestern (18-5) went 4-0 win the Wessington Springs Spartan Invitational on Saturday.
The Wildcats posted 2-0 wins over Colome (25-6, 25-11), Deubrook Area (25-12, 25-13), Tiospa Zina (25-7, 25-7) and Wessington Springs (25-11, 25-16).
Ella Boekeheide recorded 10 aces and 76 assists, Payton Grandpre eight aces and more than 28 digs, Ashley Haven 44 kills and Ana Ratigan 18 kills for Northwestern in the tourney. Tara Blachford was 55-57 serving with 14 aces and more than 21 digs.
Tiospa Zina also competed in the tourney. Complete results were not reported.
Central South Dakota Conference Tourney
FAULKTON — Wolsey-Wessington (12-3) capped a 3-0 day by beating Miller 2-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-13) in the championship game of the CSDC Tournament on Saturday.
Miller advanced to the finals with 2-0 wins over Potter County (25-13, 25-23) and Sully Buttes (25-18, 25-16).
Jolie Palmer went 32-33 serving with eight aces and and 36 digs for Miller. Aleah Schlechter contributed 23 kills and Shaylee Anderberg 19 and Heather Resel 76 assists in the tourney for Miller (13-3).
Host Faulkton Area and Sunshine Bible Academy also competed in the tourney. Complete results were not reported.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Saturday's area high school volleyball highlights
