By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

The first set featured six ties and four lead changes. Burke faced a 23-19 deficit and closed on a 7-1 spurt to stake a 1-0 lead in the match. 

In the second set, Chester Area again had a five-point (22-17) lead and closed out the Cougars for a 1-1 tie. The Flyers seized the momentum in a seesaw third set, which was tied at points 21, 22, 24 and 25. Chester Area collected the final two points for a 2-1 lead and had the momentum on its side. 

“That was just crazy,” said Larson, who had six digs and four kills. “Our bench was getting going and everyone was just so excited. That was just really important to get our energy going and our momentum.”

The Flyers, however, needed every last point to hold off the Cougars in the fourth set. Chester Area built a 20-12 advantage, but Burke rattled off a 6-1 surge to get within 21-18. 

Chester Area was later clinging to a 24-22 lead and Lily VanHal dropped down her 23rd kill to close out the Cougars. 

Chester Area’s Jacy Wolf and Addison Bates logged 11 kills apiece. Wolf added 15 digs and 28 assists. VanHal added 20 assists and 13 digs. Kaylor Geraets posted 25 digs and Emery Larson recorded 21 digs. 

Burke’s Elle Johnson had a match-high 37 digs. Kailee Frank finished with 25 digs and 18 kills. Adisyn Indahl added 27 digs, 14 kills and 10 assists. Elly Witt logged 12 digs and Ava Sargent had 11 digs. Witt posted 28 assists, while Sargent had 13 assists. Emmie Hausmann recorded 11 kills and eight digs. 

Burke will play Wolsey-Wessington at 5 p.m. Saturday in the third-place match.

The Flyers will play Warner to follow for the Class B state championship. 

“I think a lot of people didn't expect us to get here,” Serena Larson said. “We are just fighting for everything that we’ve got.”