2 weeks Ago By Blake Durham
SIOUX FALLS — From the opening serve, Dell Rapids volleyball showcased the speed and power that led the Quarriers' program to the No. 1 ranking in the South Dakota Prep Media poll most of the year. No.
3-seed Dell Rapids cruised past No. 6-seed Winner in straight sets in the Class A state quarterfinals on Thursday night at the Premier Center. The win was the Quarriers’ fifth consecutive match victory dating back to Oct.
19, while snapping the Warriors’ six-match streak. Set scores were 25-8, 25-18 and 25-11. ADVERTISEMENT Overall, Dell Rapids head coach Erica Fersdahl was pleased with the team’s performance, where the game was decided at the net with the Quarriers’ front line.
"Our blockers make our defense go,” Fersdahl said. “The more touches they can get, the easier it is for our back row to get digs. We love that they love to get a block or at least get a hand on it, so it’s great.
” The front line of Lauryn Kloth, Madelynn Henry and Sophi Randall disrupted Winner’s attacks to start the match, helping Dell Rapids open with a 6-2 scoring run. A kill by Keelie Kuil quelled the opening points and kept the Warriors within four points of the lead in the opening set. However, the Quarriers’ tendency to spread the ball around their front line on the attack proved to be the difference, as a 15-2 run keyed by a Karlie Ingalls ace helped finish out the first set, with Winner having trouble adjusting to the pace of play in comparison to its own matches.
“We tried to simulate it in practice last week, but it was hard to get it going,” Warriors head coach Jaime Keiser said. “The girls came out and were a little starstruck on how fast (the pace) actually was and it took us a while to get going.” The match shifted to start the second set, as Winner laid back and forced Dell Rapids into mistakes early, with an attack error giving the Warriors a 6-5 lead early on in the set, capped by a Kuil ace.
With the sudden burst from the Warriors, Dell Rapids was reminded not to get comfortable on the court as they took back control on three consecutive points on a kill and two aces from Henry. Randall also became involved, providing a presence in the lineup to keep the Quarriers in line. ADVERTISEMENT “Her ability to bring the group with her and just study the game and wanting to win is the biggest thing,” Fersdahl said.
“She has great hands and can block shots, and is really a student of the game.” Randall ended with 26 assists and eight kills, as blocks from Henry sealed the match in the third set for Dell Rapids. Henry led the Quarriers with 18 kills, five service aces, and four blocks, while Kloth added eight kills.
Ingalls finished with five digs and three aces. Dell Rapids (30-3) will face No. 2 seed Hamlin in the Class A semifinals at 6:45 p.
m. Friday. Winner had a team-leading six kills from Payton Sargent and Kuil had three kills and a pair of aces.
Gracie Root tallied nine assists and six digs for the Warriors, and Cora Moss finished with five digs on defense. Winner (27-5) faces off against Sioux Valley in the Class A consolation round at 12:45 p.m.
on Friday at the Premier Center, where the Warriors will look to bounce back and continue to display the mentality that brought them the state tournament. “They’ve had their backs against the wall quite a few times this year, and they’ve never given up,” Keiser said. “They’ll come out ready to play tomorrow and then go from there.
We just have to battle back.”.
