By 605 Sports Staff

The Class A state volleyball tournament is Nov. 17-19 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. 

The eight-team tournament features five-time Class A defending state champion Sioux Falls Christian. The Chargers will face familiar foe and fellow Class A powerhouse Dakota Valley in the opening round. 

The Chargers and Panthers have combined to win each of the past 12 state championships, while playing each other four times in state title matches. 

Below are capsules on all eight teams in the field. 

No. 1 Wagner (32-3)

Coach: Stacey Knebel

Tournament history: Wagner is making its 13th state tournament appearance and its second in the row. 

Key players: Emma Yost (290 kills, 451 digs, 11 solo blocks, 39 aces), Shalayne Nagel (186 kills, 55 solo blocks, 276 digs, 41 aces), Kya Kjeldgaard (179 kills, 46 solo blocks, 77 digs, 13 aces), Shona Kocer (177 kills, 69 digs, 65 solo blocks), Macy Koupal (74 aces, 49 kills, 11 solo blocks, 942 assists, 238 digs), Madi Knebel (45 aces, 285 digs), Avari Bruguier (261 kills, 41 aces, 10 solo blocks, 354 digs, 41 aces). 

Notes: The Red Raiders play Elk Point-Jefferson at 11:30 a.m. in their first-round match. … Wagner defeated Elk Point-Jefferson, 2-0, in a tournament at Tyndall this season. … Wagner’s three losses were against state tournament participants Warner, Platte-Geddes and Burke. The Red Raiders went 2-1 against Platte-Geddes, while they split a pair of matches with Burke. … Shalayne Nagel and Emma Yost will play college basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University. … The Red Raiders placed fourth last season. 

No. 2 Miller (32-2)

Coach: Linda DeBoer

Tournament history: 12th appearance in school history and first since 2019. 

Key players: Ally Mullaney (306 kills, 18 aces, 8 solo blocks, 85 digs), Jaden Werdel (272 kills, 274 digs, 39 aces), Abbi Blake (199 kills, 8 solo blocks, 97 digs, 54 aces), Tricia Lammers (150 kills, 63 digs), Tyra Gates (38 aces, 67 kills, 934 assists, 254 digs), Jolie Palmer (46 aces, 452 digs), Journey Palmer (26 aces, 194 digs), Shaylee Anderberg (123 digs), Ruby Carder (47 aces, 47 kills, 65 digs). 

Notes: The Rustlers will play Platte-Geddes at 5 p.m. in their first-round match. … Miller defeated Platte-Geddes, 3-0, earlier this season. … Miller’s two losses were against Class B No. 1 seed Warner. … The Rustlers defeated Class B tourney participant, Wolsey-Wessington, in straight sets earlier this season. 

Elkton-Lake Benton celebrates a point earlier this season at the Corn Palace. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

No. 3 Elkton-Lake Benton (31-3)

Coach: Melissa Erickson

Tournament history: Elkton-Lake Benton qualified for its first-ever state volleyball tournament last season and is making its second consecutive trip this year. 

Key players: Rachael Krog (330 kills, 430 digs, 8 solo blocks, 29 aces), Andrea Renkly (241 kills, 8 solo blocks, 147 digs, 38 aces), Kailyn Drietz (227 kills, 24 aces, 259 digs), Kylie Ramlo (161 kills, 28 aces, 18 solo blocks, 252 digs), Aubree Bales (136 kills, 25 solo blocks, 53 digs), Tevan Erickson (62 aces, 56 kills, 15 solo blocks, 941 assists, 318 digs), Kayla Goertz (209 digs).

Notes: The Elks will play Belle Fourche at 6:45 p.m. in their first-round match. … Two of Elkton-Lake Benton’s three losses were against Class B tourney teams Warner and Castlewood. The Elks split with Castlewood during the regular season. … Elkton-Lake Benton defeated state tournament qualifiers Burke, Chester Area, Colman-Egan (three times) and Platte-Geddes this season. … Elkton-Lake Benton placed fifth last season. 

No. 4 Sioux Falls Christian (30-5)

Coach: Darci Wassenaar

Tournament history: Sioux Falls Christian’s 26th state tournament appearance and it has qualified every season since 2007. 

Key players: Ellie Lems (320 kills, 160 digs, 64 blocks, 32 aces), Peyton Poppema (275 kills, 238 digs, 34 aces, 29 blocks), Sidney Oostra (266 kills, 248 digs, 45 aces), Taylor Byl (229 kills, 76 blocks), Addisen Barber (1,019 assists, 191 digs, 43 aces, 31 blocks), Lavin Maddox (346 digs), Maggie Keepers (124 digs).

Notes: The Chargers will play Dakota Valley at 1:15 p.m. in their first-round match. … Sioux Falls Christian defeated the Panthers twice during the regular season. … Two of Sioux Falls Christian’s five losses were against Class AA qualifiers Sioux Falls O’Gorman and Harrisburg. … Their other three losses were against teams from Iowa. … The Chargers defeated Class A qualifier Elk Point-Jefferson twice during the regular season. … The Chargers have won the past five state championships. 

No. 5 Dakota Valley (26-7)

Coach: Mary Miller

Tournament history: Tenth appearance, including state championships in 2013 and 2016, along with runner-up finishes in 2012, ‘17, ‘19, and ‘20.

Key players: Sophie Tuttle (293 kills, 244 digs, 44 aces), Claire Munch (261 kills, 222 digs, 36 aces, 32 blocks), Jorja VanDenHul (204 kills, 45 aces, 43 blocks), Addison Kleis (186 kills), Logan Miller (863 assists, 192 digs, 44 aces), Reagan VanRooyan (187 digs, 37 aces).

Notes: The Panthers will play Sioux Falls Christian at 1:15 p.m. in their first-round match. … Dakota Valley lost to Sioux Falls Christian twice this season, as well as losing to Class AA tourney qualifier Harrisburg. …Their other losses were against teams from Iowa and Nebraska. … The Panthers have wins over state tourney qualifiers Elk Point-Jefferson, Chester Area, O’Gorman, and Huron. … Dakota Valley’s last state tournament appearance was in 2020, a runner-up finish. 

No. 6 Belle Fourche (32-6)

Coach: Loree Schlichtemeier

Tournament history: Sixth appearance, including one state championship in 1992.

Key players: Adryana Hovland (233 kills, 263 digs, 39 aces), Grace Clooten (190 kills, 55 blocks), Dylan Stedillie (176 kills, 239 digs, 102 assists, 36 aces), Chloe Crago (430 digs, 57 aces), Lily McCarty (925 assists, 310 digs, 44 aces, 26 blocks), Mataya Ward (389 digs, 83 aces), Sloan Young (103 digs).

Notes: The Broncs will play Elkton-Lake Benton 6:45 p.m. in their first-round match. … Belle Fourche’s losses were against Mobridge-Pollock, Tea Area, Lennox, Rapid City Christian, Powder River County, Mont., and Redfield. … The Broncs avenged their loss to Mobridge-Pollock in the SoDak 16, winning in four sets. … Belle Fourche has not played a team that has qualified in the state tournament this season. … The Broncs last state tournament appearance was in 2017, a fourth-place finish.

No. 7 Platte-Geddes (27-7)

Coach: Melissa Johnson

Tournament history: Seventh appearance, with three previous appearances in Class A and three in Class B. 

Key players: Karly VanDerWerff (386 kills, 327 digs, 52 blocks, 46 aces), Regan Hoffman (274 kills, 317 digs, 51 aces, 19 blocks), Cadence Van Zee (263 kills, 315 digs, 63 aces), Hadley Hanson (312 digs, 51 aces), Avery DeVries (869 assists, 232 digs, 52 aces), Baileigh Nachtigal (238 digs, 86 assists), Emerson Ringling (97 kills). 

Notes: The Black Panthers will play Miller at 5 p.m. in their first round match. … Platte-Geddes lost to Miller in straight sets on Oct. 11. … The Black Panthers have wins over Class B state tourney qualifiers Freeman and Burke and Class A qualifier Wagner. … Platte-Geddes’ losses came against Beresford, Wagner (twice), Rapid City Christian, Elkton-Lake Benton, Miller, and Burke. … The Black Panthers last state tournament appearance was last season, a third-place finish in the Class B tournament.

No. 8 Elk Point-Jefferson (24-9)

Coach: Erin Kuper

Tournament history: Tenth appearance, including one state championship in 1997 and one runner-up finish in 2010.

Key players: Bentlee Kollbaum (248 kills, 230 digs), Natalie Heuertz (165 kills, 51 blocks), Danica Torrez (146 kills, 263 digs, 34 aces), Ashley Brewer (121 kills, 43 blocks), Alyssa Chytka (417 digs, 43 aces), Sophia Giorgio (709 assists, 226 digs, 26 aces), Kaitlyn Van Roekel (190 digs), Hannah Nearman (118 digs).