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No. 1 Chargers turn back No. 2 Rapid City Christian in tourney championship

roger merriam, watertown public opinion
·4 min read

RAPID CITY — Top-seeded Sioux Falls Christian continues to rule South Dakota Class A volleyball.

The Chargers (35-4) captured their seventh-straight Class A title Saturday night with a 3-1 win over second-seeded Rapid City Christian (35-6) in the tournament championship in the Summit Arena at The Monument.

The title didn't come easy for the Chargers, who won 25-15, 22-25, 25-13 and 25-14.

Taylor Byl smacked 19 kills, Sidney Oostra 15 and Brietta Tims nine for Sioux Falls Christian. Oostra also added four aces and 21 digs and Byl two solo and three block assists. Addisen Barber contributed 46 assists, Lavin Maddox 24 digs and Chloe Bosma 11 digs.

Rapid City Christian, seeking its first state title, was led by Ana Egge's 22 kills. Faith King tallied 33 assists and 14 digs, Sophie DeWitt and Paisley Griffith 12 digs each and Chloe Weber 10 digs. Egge also had one solo and three block assists.

All-Tournament Team

The South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association's all-tourney team included Barber, Oostra and Byl of Sioux Falls Christian; Egge and Faith King of Rapid City Christian; Madelynn Henry and Sophia Randall of Dell Rapids; Jolie Palmer of Miller; Claire Munch and Sophie Tuttle of Dakota Valley; Karly VanDerWerff of Platte-Geddes and Kya Kjeldgaard of Wagner.

The Sioux Falls Christian Chargers won their seventh-straight state Class A volleyball championship with a 3-1 victory over Rapid City Christian on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 in the Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City.
The Sioux Falls Christian Chargers won their seventh-straight state Class A volleyball championship with a 3-1 victory over Rapid City Christian on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 in the Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City.

Saturday's Other Matches

Third Place (Dell Rapids 3, Miller 0) — The Quarriers won 25-15, 25-20 and 25-21 to end the season with a 28-7 record. Sophi Randall led the way, tallying 22 assists, 13 digs and two solo and three block assists. Madelynn Henry contributed 12 kills, Lauryn Kloth 10 kills and Alaina Wolff 14 digs.

Heather Resel (21 assists and 10 digs), Jolie Palmer (15 digs) and Aleah Schlechter (seven kills) paced Miller, which ended 29-8.

More: RC Christian, Miller and Dell Rapids also record first-round victories

Fifth Place (Dakota Valley 3, Platte-Geddes 1) — Dakota Valley (3-1) won 23-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 25-16 with 17 kills and 16 digs from Claire Munch, 15 kills from Sophie Tuttle, 12 kills from Samantha Kimball, 29 assists from Bria Perryman, 22 assists from Jacee Squier and five aces and 15 digs from Reagan Granstrom.

Leading the way for Platte-Geddes (27-7) were Cadence Van Zee 19 kills and 10 digs; Kori VanDerWerff, 12 kills; Karly VanDerWerff, 11 kills and one solo and three block assists; Baleigh Nachtigal, 39 assists; and Hadley Hanson, 15 digs.

Seventh Place (Wagner 3, Lennox 0) — Wagner finished off a 27-8 season with a 25-20, 25-19 and 25-18 victory. Macy Koupal produced 31 assists and 11 digs, Kya Kjeldgaard 12 kills and 15 digs, Ashlyn Koupal nine kills and Shona Kocer one solo and three block assists.

Carli Kuyper (eight kills), Dani Highum (seven kills and 13 digs), Libby Kranz (seven kills), Ella Grengs (15 assists), Lillian Meyer (14 assists) and Andie Peters (12 digs) paced Lennox, which finished the season 19-13.

Sioux Falls Christian's Taylor Byl hits over Dell Rapids' Lauryn Kloth during their semifinal match in the state Class A volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in the Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City.
Sioux Falls Christian's Taylor Byl hits over Dell Rapids' Lauryn Kloth during their semifinal match in the state Class A volleyball tournament on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in the Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City.

Friday's Semifinals

Top-seeded Sioux Falls Christian put themselves in position for title No. 7 in a row by posting a 3-1 (25-19, 25-16, 24-26 and 25-11) semifinal win over Dell Rapids.

Sidney Oostra smacked 18 kills and also made 15 digs for the Chargers. Other key contributors were Taylor Byl, 15 kills, four aces and one solo and four block assists; Katelyn Maas, 11 kills; Addisen Barber, 46 assists and 14 digs; Maggie Keepers 14 digs; and Lavin Maddox, 15 digs.

Madelynn Henry collected 13 kills and eight digs, Lauryn Kloth 10 kills and Sophi Randall nine kills, 28 assists and 10 digs for Dell Rapids.

Rapid City Christian swept Miller 3-0 (25-18, 25-17 and 25-14) in Friday's other semifinal.

Ana Egge produced 18 kills and three aces, Faith King 31 assists and 11 digs and Sophie DeWitt 15 digs for RCC. Aleah Schlechter made 10 kills, Heather Resel 24 assists and Jolie Palmer 13 digs for Miller.

More: Six-time defending champion Sioux Falls Christian favored again in Class A

Friday's Consolation Semifinals

Platte-Geddes swept Lennox 3-0, winning 25-23, 25-14 and 25-23 behind 14 kills from Cadence Van Zee, 13 kills and 12 digs from Karly VanDerWerff, 37 assists from Baleigh Nachtigal and 11 digs from Halle Sprik. Dani Highum tallied 18 kills, Lillian Meyer 16 assists, Ella Grengs 14 assists and Ashlee Sweeter 11 digs for Lennox.

Dakota Valley won the other consolation semifinal 3-0 (25-19, 25-17 and 29-27) over Wagner. The Panthers were led by Sophie Tuttle with 16 kills and 17 digs, Jacee Squier 24 assists and Claire Munch 24 digs and nine kills. Wagner recorded 19 kills and 11 digs from Ashlyn Koupal, eight kills and 12 digs from Kya Kjeldgaard and eight kills, 15 digs and 23 assists from Macy Koupal.

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: Class A highlights from final two rounds of state volleyball tourney