With Dell Rapids leading two sets to zero and ahead 24-17 in the third set, Kylee Fiddelke, the lone senior on this year’s team, delivered the match-winning ace serve to send the Dell Rapids Quarriers to the state tournament. The Quarriers defeated the Hill City Rangers in straight sets by scores of 25-11, 25-22, and 25-14 in the SoDak 16 in Chamberlain on Tuesday, November 7th.
Dell Rapids started the first set with a 3-2 lead. They then went on a 7-1 run for a 10-3 lead. Hill City rallied to cut the score to 11-7, but the Quarriers went on a big run. They ended the first set on a 14-4 run for a 25-11 win.
The second set went back and fourth throughout. Dell Rapids held an early 7-4 lead, but the Rangers tied the score 8-8. The set was tied 10 more times before it was done. The teams traded points and small leads to a 21-21 score. The Rangers and Quarriers traded points to a 22-22 time. Dell Rapids scored the final three points to win the second set 25-22.
The momentum of winning the second set carried into the third for Dell Rapids. After Hill City scored the first point, the Quarriers went on an 8-0 run for an 8-1 lead. The Rangers cut the lead to 8-4, but that was as close as they would get. The Quarriers went on an 8-2 run for a 16-6 lead. The Rangers got within six, 20-14, but Dell Rapids scored the final five points for the match win.
Sophi Randall finished with 27 set assists, 10 digs, seven kills, two blocks, and two ace serves. Lauryn Kloth added 10 kills, two blocks, two set assists, and an ace. Madelynn Henry had 10 kills and six ddigs. Fiddelke finished with six digs, three kills, and an ace. Elin Schoenhard had four kills and a block. Alaina Wolff had five digs, three ace serves, and two set assists. Karlie Ingalls added four ace serves and three digs, and Clara Justice had two blocks and a dig.
Dell Rapids will enter the 2023 South Dakota State A Volleyball Tournament as the #5 seed. The Quarriers will play #4 Platte-Geddes in the opening round on Thursday, November 16th at 1:45 p.m. The state tournament is being held in the Summit Arena at the Monument in Rapid City.
