RAPID CITY — Bennett County returned to the win column at a state volleyball tournament on Thursday.

The Warriors, who were making their first state volleyball tourney berth since 2006, topped Parkston 3-1 in the opening round of the Class B tournament at the Summit Arena at the Monument. The set scores were 25-18, 22-25, 25-20 and 25-21.

Coach Amy Petrak, who was a sophomore on the 2006 Bennett County team, felt a sigh of relief after coaching the Warriors to Thursday’s win. 

“It’s a little bit of a weight off of my shoulders,” Petrak said. “Because I know that they can do it and believing in themselves is just a huge feat for us.”

The Warriors (35-5) might have been playing in their first state volleyball tournament, but they’ve made their mark in other sports in 2025. In March, the Warriors won the Class B state girls basketball tournament and they won the Class B state girls track and field meet in May. 

Ironically, Bennett County defeated Parkston in the opening round of the Class B state girls basketball tournament in Huron. 

On Thursday, the Warriors defeated the Trojans (30-7) for the second time in 2025 and again in the first round. In the first set, the teams exchanged the lead five times and there were six ties. 

The Warriors broke away from a 19-17 lead, outscoring Parkston 6-1 down the stretch. 

In the second set, Parkston led from start-to-finish, led by as much as 18-10 and held off a Bennett County surge to even the match at 1-1. 

Bennett County's Peyson O'Neill (6) and Olivia McMillan (1) go up for a block against Parkston during a Class B quarterfinal match on Thursday at Summit Arena during the state volleyball tournament in Rapid City. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

“We try a little bit too hard sometimes, and then things just don’t go our way,” Petrak said about the second set. “They adjusted really well and confidence in each other is a huge thing that I keep telling them.”

The Trojans also took advantage of Bennett County’s breakdowns in serve-receive, which Warrior sophomore hitter Reagan O’Neill said has hindered the team at times this season. 

“We kind of get stuck in a little mess sometimes in that particular spot,” O’Neill said. “But we just talk through it and we can get through it. It was a hard thing to get through, but we got it.”

In the third set, the Warriors cleaned up their serve-receive issues and bolted out to a 18-10 lead. They closed it out for a 2-1 advantage. In the fourth set, the Warriors and Trojans traded point-for-point, but Bennett County pulled away from Parkston for the 3-1 match win. 

O’Neill said once the team cleaned up their passing, it allowed them to execute its offensive attack. 

“If you don’t get a good pass you are not going to be able to execute a good hit, and that was the most important part,” said O’Neill, who racked up 21 kills and 20 digs.

Peyson O’Neill, Reagan’s freshman sister, added 19 kills, 13 digs and six blocks. Macy Claussen totaled 48 assists. Harley Harris totaled 23 of the team’s 97 digs. 

For Parkston, Keeara Oakley finished with 22 kills and 18 digs. Berkley Ziebart added 16 kills and 11 digs. Finley Bogenreif added 40 assists.  

Parkston will play Herreid/Selby Area at 11 a.m. MT in the consolation semifinals. 

Bennett County will play No. 1 Chester at 5 p.m. MT in the championship semifinals. Chester, which has won the last two Class B state championships, swept Herreid/Selby Area on Thursday.  

“It’s going to be tough,” Petrak said about facing the Flyers. “It’s going to be a dogfight again. I am not going to say that it’s not going to be tough. I think if we show up and want it, I think we will be all right.”