A matchup between the top two volleyball teams in Class A took place in Dell Rapids on Thursday, September 3rd. The Quarriers hosted the Sioux Falls Christian Chargers, and the Chargers took the win in five sets by scores of 28-26, 25-23, 19-25, 15-25, and 15-13. The match lived up to every bit of the hype.
The opening set started with a 4-4 score. Sioux Falls Christian grabbed a 9-7 lead and extended it to 15-11. Dell Rapids got within a point, 16-15, but the Chargers were able to stay in front by scores of 21-19 and 24-22. The Quarriers rallied to tie the score 24-24. The teams traded points to ties of 25-25 and 26-26. Sioux Falls Christian scored the final two points for a 28-26 win. Dell Rapids started the second set by taking a 4-2 lead. They pushed their lead to 12-8 and 14-10. The Quarriers continued to hold the lead, but the Chargers got within a point, 18-17. Sioux Falls Christian would tie the score 19-19. The Quarriers then went back in front 21-19. The Chargers then went on a 3-0 run to go in front 22-21. Dell Rapids tied the score 23-23, but the Chargers again scored the final two points for a 25-23 win.
The match continued to be close as the third set started with a 4-4 tie. The Chargers took a slim 6-5 lead, but the Quarriers tied the score 7-7. The score was tied again at 10-10. Dell Rapids then went on a 5-1 run for a 15-11 lead. They extended their lead to 18-13. The Chargers got within three points, 21-18, but Dell Rapids finished the set on a 4-1 run for a 25-19 win. The Quarriers rode the momentum of the win in the third set into the fourth. Dell Rapids took an early 5-2 lead and never looked back. They extended their lead to 9-5 and then to 18-11. The Quarriers continued to lead by seven, 21-14, before taking the fourth set by a score of 25-15.
Sioux Falls Christian scored the first two points of the fifth and final set for a 2-0 lead. Dell Rapids tied the score 2-2. The two teams were tied at 4-4, 7-7, and 8-8. The Quarriers then went on a 4-0 run to take a 12-8 lead. They looked to be on the path to completing the comeback match win as they led 13-10, but the Chargers scored five straight points to steal the set 15-13 and win the match 3-2.
Madelynn Henry finished with 38 kills and 14 digs. Tenley Witzel had 10 kills and 15 digs. Sylea Sykes added nine kills and 15 digs. Josie Price had eight kills. Tenley Anderson had 54 set assists along with 13 digs. Alaina Wolff had 22 digs.
