The top two ranked teams in South Dakota Class A volleyball did battle at Dell Rapids High School on Thursday, August 30th. The #1 ranked Sioux Falls Christian Chargers defeated the #2 ranked Dell Rapids Quarriers by scores of 25-10, 21-25, 25-13, 25-12 to remain undefeated.
The start of the first set remained closed as the Chargers took the serve with a 10-8 lead. Sioux Falls Christian found some momentum and used an 11-point run to take a 21-8 lead. The Chargers cruised to the first set win.
The Chargers was able to maintain about a four point lead through the first half of the second set. Sioux Falls Christian led 12-8 before Dell Rapids tied the set at 13-13. The two teams traded points back-and-forth. With the Chargers leading 19-18, Dell Rapids scored the next five points and led 23-19. The Quarriers were able to hang on for the win in the second set.
Again the Chargers held an early four-point lead in the third set at 8-4 and then again at 12-8. Dell Rapids pulled within three points at 14-11, but Sioux Falls Christian closed out the third set on an 11-2 run to go ahead two sets to one.
Dell Rapids grabbed the early lead to start the fourth set at 4-2. Sioux Falls Christian tied the score at 5-5, and then they went on a 12-3 run to take a 17-8 lead. The Chargers didn’t look back from that point and took the match three sets to one.
Jayda Knuppe finished the match with eight kills and two service points. Maria Jackson had three kills and four service points. Hannah Fletcher finished with 15 set assists, 10 digs, five service points, and three kills. Brooke Klein led the team with 14 digs on the night and also had two service points and an ace. Kyra Graham had two blocks and a kill in the match.
“It’s been a tough week on the volleyball court. While it’s always difficult to lose, there have been so many positives that have come out of these two games. If the girls can leave it all out on the court every set, we will be unstoppable! They have so much heart and potential, the sky is the limit with this team!” said head coach Jessica Ahlers.
Dell Rapids (5-2) will host Tea Area in their third straight home match on Thursday, September 6th.