1 day Ago By Andrew Haugland
FARGO — For the third year in a row the West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs are headed to the North Dakota Class A volleyball state championship. The East Region No. 1-seeded Mustangs defeated the East Region No.
3 Fargo Shanley 25-11, 25-17, 15-25 and 26-24 in the Class A semifinals Friday at the Fargodome. ADVERTISEMENT "It's so special to me," said Sheyenne senior outside hitter Alexa Killoran. "Coming back as a senior, it just means so much more.
" The two-time defending state champion Mustangs will battle West Region No. 1 Bismarck Century in the title match at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23. Century defeated West Region No.
3 Bismarck Legacy in three sets in Friday's other semifinal. Century is a nine-time state champion and was going for its own three-peat in 2022 when Sheyenne defeated the Patriots in five sets for the Mustangs' first state title. Sheyenne head coach Leah Newton said that, as with the Mustangs' other state title-appearing teams, it's been rewarding to see the growth of this team's players throughout the season.
"You want it so bad for them," Newton said. "The fact they were able to fight and make that happen is pretty cool." The Mustangs fended off a fourth-set push from the Deacons, who were trying to force a fifth set.
Both teams never led by more than two points. Tied at 24-24, Sheyenne scored back-to-back points, with right-side hitter Cora Metcalf delivering the match-winning kill. ADVERTISEMENT Killoran said the team focused on remaining calm, but needed to be ready for whatever was thrown its way.
"We said, 'Just pretend the score is 0-0,' " Killoran said. "We wanted to come out aggressive every single time the ball was served or touched. We wanted to have that same intensity.
" The Mustangs erupted offensively in the first set to lead 13-1. Libero Baylor Dinger served three straight aces en route to Killoran's set-sealing kill. Sheyenne trailed throughout the first half of the second set, but a seven-point run turned the tides and the Mustangs gained control at 19-13.
Sheyenne closed out the set with a 4-0 run, capped by outside hitter Abby Smithoff's kill. Shanley countered in the third set. Already leading by five, the Deacons rattled off eight-straight points to go ahead 18-6.
Outside hitter Katelyn Ommen had multiple kills and an ace in the set. Mustangs middle hitter Reilly Bryant notched a team-high seven kills. Metcalf had five kills and seven blocks, and Dinger aced five serves.
Makayla Amundson ended with 19 set assists and Marley Budeau had 18 assists. "We came out with a fiery attitude," Newton said. ADVERTISEMENT Ommen led the the Deacons with nine kills, three blocks and 22 digs.
Clara Robin and Megan Dietz both had six kills. Ella Stimpson had 26 set assists and 18 digs, and Carly Hulstein had four kills and three blocks. Shanley will face off against Bismarck Legacy in the third-place contest at 2 p.
m. Saturday, Nov. 23.
"We're going to go hard (Saturday) and we're going to finish strong," said Deacons head coach Taylor Preston. The Mustangs remain poised for what the championship match will bring, Newton said. "We're going to have to play tough team ball and be ready," Newton said.
"(The team we play) is going to be wanting it just as bad as us." Killoran added: "We need to come out confident and aggressive. Serve the ball super aggressive and just have faith in ourselves and our teammates.
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