RAPID CITY — Dakota Valley headlines a stacked field of contenders at this year’s Class A state volleyball tournament. 

The Panthers, who play in the ultra-competitive Dak-XII Conference, are the No. 1 seed after finishing as the Class A runner-ups last season. Dakota Valley is joined by fellow conference foes Sioux Falls Christian and Dell Rapids, last season’s Class A state champion. 

Wagner, Clark/Willow Lake, Hamlin, Rapid City Christian and St. Thomas More rounds out the field. 

In the first round, Dakota Valley plays Wagner at 11 a.m. MT and Clark/Willow Lake plays Hamlin at 12:45 p.m. MT to cap off the afternoon session. In the evening session, Dell Rapids plays Rapid City Christian at 5 p.m. MT and Sioux Falls Christian plays St. Thomas More at 6:45 p.m. MT to conclude the first day. 

No. 1 Dakota Valley (31-3)

Coach: Mike Whittlef

Key players: Claire Munch, Madelyn Munch, Samantha Kimball, Aubree Worden

Notes: Dakota Valley will play No. 8 Wagner at 11 a.m. MT in the opening round. … Dakota Valley took second place to Dell Rapids in last season’s Class A state volleyball tournament. … Dakota Valley’s only three losses were against Sioux Falls Christian (3-0), Brandon Valley (3-0) and Western Christian, Iowa. … Dakota Valley has qualified for every state tournament since 2019. … The Panthers have defeated defending champ Dell Rapids three times this season (2-0, 3-2 and 2-1). … Claire Munch leads the team in kills with 507, to go along with 12 solo blocks, 70 aces and 290 digs. … Samantha Kimball has recorded 297 kills, 48 aces and 223 digs. … Madelyn Munch has tallied 55 aces, 65 kills and 997 assists. … Coryn Kimball has totaled 40 aces and 323 digs. … Aubree Worden has tallied 28 aces, 152 kills and 202 digs. 

No. 8 Wagner (24-7)

Coach: Stacey Knebel

Key players: Ravyn Medricky, Hannah Holzbauer, Braxton Nedved, Libby Kotab

Notes: Wagner will play No. 1 Dakota Valley at 11 a.m. MT in the opening round. … Wagner last made the state tournament in 2023. … Hannah Holzbauer leads the team in kills (332), to go along with 63 aces, nine blocks and 379 digs. … Ravyn Medricky has recorded 319 kills, 35 aces, 60 blocks and 364 digs. … Nedved has totaled 804 assists, 315 digs, 18 blocks, 97 kills and 76 aces. … Kotab has registered 31 aces and 450 digs. … Wagner senior Ashlyn Koupal, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, will play college basketball at Division I Nebraska. … Wagner went 1-2 against Winner during the regular season, but defeated Winner (3-1) in the SoDak 16 match to reach state. 

No. 4 Clark/Willow Lake (25-1)

Coach: Betty McGraw

Key players: Shelby Begeman, Ella Sass, Kadee Frankfurth, Kelsey Hofer, Zoe Nichols

Notes: Clark/Willow Lake will play No. 5 Hamlin at 12:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … Clark/Willow Lake’s lone loss was against Hamlin, a three-set sweep on Oct. 28. … Clark/Willow Lake is making its first state volleyball tournament as a co-op. Clark qualified for the state volleyball tournaments in 2000 and ‘01. Willow Lake never advanced to state on its own. … Shelby Begeman, a 6-foot freshman middle hitter, has totaled 330 kills, 14 aces, 51 digs and 125 blocks. … Ella Sass has recorded 187 kills and 126 blocks. … Kadee Frankfurth has posted 22 aces and a team-high 236 digs. … Kelsey Hofer has 18 aces, 100 kills and 173 digs. … Nichols leads the team in assists (613), to go along with 127 digs, 70 aces and 35 kills. … Eliza Larson has registered 37 aces, 139 kills, 131 digs and 33 blocks. 

No. 5 Hamlin (21-4)

Coach: Ashley Heinrich

Key players: Addison Neuendorf, Addie Jensen, Jayci Trowbridge, Issie Steffensen, Jade Thue, Kayde Nebel

Notes: Hamlin will play No. 4 Clark/Willow Lake at 12:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … Hamlin handed Clark/Willow Lake its lone defeat, a three-set sweep on Oct. 28. … Hamlin is playing in its second straight state tournament, and finished fourth last season. … Addison Neuendorf, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter, will play college basketball at Northern State University next season. Neuendorf has totaled 318 kills, 69 aces, 280 digs and nine blocks this season. … Addie Jensen has recorded 259 kills, 47 digs and a team-high 53 blocks this season. … Jade Thue has posted 244 kills, 78 digs and eight blocks. … Jayci Trowbridge has 60 aces and 267 digs. … Issie Steffensen has 57 kills, 58 aces and a team-high 804 assists. … Kayde Nebel has 48 blocks, to go along with 96 kills and 48 digs. 

No. 2 Dell Rapids (27-6)

Coach: Erica Fersdahl

Key players: Maddelyn Henry, Sylea Sykes, Peyton Hohn, Alaina Wolff, Tenley Anderson

Notes: Dell Rapids will play No. 7 Rapid City Christian at 5 p.m. MT in the opening round. … Dell Rapids is the defending Class A state champion. … The Quarriers are playing in their third straight state volleyball tournament. … Maddelyn Henry, a 6-foot junior outside hitter, has verbally committed to play college volleyball at Division I Oregon. Henry has totaled 537 kills, to go along with 72 aces, 23 blocks and 235 digs. … Sykes has recorded 223 kills, 23 blocks and 225 digs. … Peyton Hohn has 209 kills, 54 blocks, 24 aces and 35 digs. … Alaina Wolff has totaled 43 aces and 299 digs. … Tenley Anderson has recorded 897 assists, 56 kills, 34 aces, 32 blocks and 195 digs. 

No. 7 Rapid City Christian (29-11)

Coach: Krystal Weber

Key players: Chloe Weber, Faith King, Paisley Griffith, Maddie Alstiel

Notes: Rapid City Christian will play No. 2 Dell Rapids at 5 p.m. MT in the opening round. … The Comets are back in the state tournament for the first time since 2023 when they took runner-up. … Chloe Weber leads the team in kills with 450, adding 299 digs, 290 assists, 46 aces and 34 blocks. … Faith King has recorded the most assists (765) and aces (77), with 35 blocks, 326 digs and 333 kills. … Paisley Griffith has a team-leading 430 digs with 139 assists, 58 aces and 37 kills. … Maddie Altsiel has tallied 264 kills, 51 aces, 46 blocks and 110 digs.

No. 3 Sioux Falls Christian (25-10)

Coach: Darci Wassenaar

Key players: Tavyn Sichmeller, Meredith Nelson, Allyra Dorhout, Jayla Overman

Notes: Sioux Falls Christian will play No. 6 St. Thomas More at 6:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … The Chargers have won 13 state volleyball championships since 2007, including nine of the last 11 titles. … Tavyn Sichmeller leads the team in kills with 265, adding 168 digs. … Meredith Nelson has dished out a team-leading 911 assists with 197 digs, 29 49 aces and 76 kills. … Allyra Dorhout has 102 total blocks with 183 kills. … Jayla Overman is second on the team in kills with 216, adding 86 blocks and 36 aces.

No. 6 St. Thomas More (29-9)

Coach: Mikayla Philipsen

Key players: Leighton Scherr, Enna Henry, Kelsey Benda