RAPID CITY — The Burke Cougars prepared for moments like this. 

The Cougars outlasted Wolsey-Wessington in a five-set Class B high school volleyball match on Thursday at the Summit Arena. The set scores were 25-19, 25-15, 15-25, 23-25 and 15-11. 

The Cougars built a 2-0 set lead against Wolsey-Wessington, only to see it evened back up after the Warbirds surged back. 

The fifth set, however, was for the Cougars (33-4) and they relied on their preparation in the decisive set. 

“We work for these five setters and we push them in practice to be conditioned for these types of things,” said Burke coach Billie Jo Indahl, whose team is now 3-0 in five setters this season. “But I am just super proud of them for finishing.” 

The Cougars used a 6-1 lead in the final set to seize back momentum from Wolsey-Wessington (29-5). 

“It was very important,” said Burke hitter Kailee Frank, who finished with 20 kills and 18 digs. “Volleyball is a game of momentum and energy. So getting up right away in that fifth set kind of gave us a little edge.”

The Warbirds evened the match at 6-6, but Burke never relinquished the lead and claimed the four-point win.   

“We got an early lead and that helps,” Indahl said. “In the fifth set it goes really fast. You cannot bury yourself in a hole. So we talked about that. We said we have to get up on them right away and we have to stay aggressive.” 

Burke’s Emmie Hausmann finished with 17 kills and 11 digs. Paige Bull added 14 kills and 11 digs. Bull also logged three solo blocks. Elle Johnson posted 37 digs. Ava Sargent dished out 21 assists, added 15 digs and two aces. Bridget Eliason and Emmy Spencer had 13 and 10 assists, respectively. Hausmann and Sargent had three and two aces, respectively.

For Wolsey-Wessington, Kailynn Dorris posted 21 kills and seven digs. Samara Clemente had 14 kills. Shae Uttecht posted 25 digs and Lainey Uttecht posted 24 digs. Kendal Uttecht recorded 20 digs. Roxy Glanzer finished with 15 digs. Clemente posted three solo blocks. Kendal Uttecht recorded 27 assists and Peyton Kemnitz had 23 digs. 

The Cougars were sharp in the opening set, jumping out to an early lead and led from start to finish. Burke carried the momentum into the second set and pulled away for a 2-0 set lead. 

“I think we clicked and got it going,” Frank said. “We got up and put the ball down. I think we did amazing in the first two sets.” 

The Warbirds, however, evened the match at 2-2 with a pair of wins and Indahl wasn’t surprised. 

“We knew it was going to be a battle because watching Wolsey-Wessington on film they are a team that battles and they don’t give up,” Indahl said. “We knew that’s what they were going to do and we kind of expected it.”

In the fifth set, the Cougars’ early lead propelled them to victory. 

“When we stepped back onto the court that fifth set, I knew we were going to take that set,” Frank said. “I just knew it. We are kind of good at doing that sometimes in five sets, but I knew we were going to pull through in the end and take the ‘W.’ ”

Wolsey-Wessington will play Gayville-Volin at 11 a.m. MT Friday in the consolation semifinals. 

Burke will play No. 1 Warner at 5 p.m. MT Friday in the championship semifinals. The Cougars were the last Class B team to beat Warner, 2-1, on Sept. 10, 2022 in Arlington.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Indahl said. “But we are going to give it everything we have and they are super excited to get to play Warner again.”