SIOUX FALLS — Not many No. 8 seeds have won seven straight state tournaments. But that’s exactly the case for No. 8 seed Sioux Falls Christian this season.

The Chargers dropped 12 matches this season, but finds itself back at the Class A state tournament and as a dangerous No. 8 seed. 

The seven-time defending champs will play No. 1 Miller at 11 a.m. to kickoff the Class A state volleyball tournament at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. 

In other first-round matches, No. 4 Dakota Valley plays No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton, No. 2 Hamlin plays No. 7 Sioux Valley and No. 3 Dell Rapids plays No. 6 Winner. 

Here are capsules on all eight of the Class A state volleyball tournament teams:

No. 1 Miller (28-1)

Coach: Linda DeBoer 

Key players: Paige Werdel (300 kills, 55 aces, 18 blocks, 153 digs), Aleah Schlechter (220 kills, 244 digs, 31 aces, 47 blocks), Gracen Werdel (36 aces, 172 digs, 27 blocks, 174 kills), Kaihlyn Anderberg (127 kills, 96 digs), Kate Lichty (30 aces, 157 digs, 125 kills), Olivia Resel (70 kills, 39 aces, 830 assists, 140 digs), Jolie Palmer (484 digs, 79 aces). 

Notes: Miller is making second consecutive Class A state volleyball tournament appearance. … Miller’s lone defeat was a 3-0 decision against Class B power Warner. … The Rustlers defeated state tourney teams Winner, Mount Vernon/Plankinton and Hitchcock-Tulare during the regular season. … The Rustlers have lost four straight matches against Sioux Falls Christian, with their last meeting coming in 2020. 

No. 8 Sioux Falls Christian (25-12)

Coach: Darci Wassenaar 

Key players: Brietta Tims (327 kills, 43 blocks, 172 digs, 22 aces), Jayla Overman (203 kills, 36 digs, 33 aces, 87 blocks), Rachel Dieleman (196 kills, 84 blocks), Camdyn Mulder (143 kills, 35 digs, 26 blocks), Addisen Barber (133 kills, 43 aces, 155 digs, 811 assists), Meredith Nelson (35 aces, 78 assists, 80 digs, 72 kills), Chloe Bosma (43 aces, 44 assists, 419 digs). 

Notes: The Chargers have qualified for every Class A state volleyball tournament since 2007, and have won the past seven state championships. … A 5-foot-9 setter, Addisen Barber will play college volleyball at Division I Oral Roberts. Six-foot-2 middle hitter Rachel Dieleman (Bethel) and 5-foot-10 outside hitter Brietta Tims (Duluth) will also play college volleyball. … The Chargers have won four straight matches against Miller, including the last meeting in 2020. 

No. 4 Dakota Valley (29-5)

Coach: Erik Krenz

Key players: Claire Munch (477 kills, 50 aces, 31 blocks, 343 digs), Samantha Kimball (290 kills, 50 aces, 15 blocks, 256 digs), Aubree Worden (148 kills, 44 blocks, 53 digs), Emersen Mead (125 kills, 41 aces, 59 blocks, 58 digs), Madelyn Munch (940 assists, 62 kills, 42 aces, 15 blocks, 207 digs). 

Notes: Dakota Valley is playing in its sixth straight Class A state volleyball tournament. … Dakota Valley and Mount Vernon/Plankinton last played in the 2014 state tournament, a 3-0 sweep for the Panthers.

No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (27-5)

Coach: Darcy Deinert 

Key players: Reagan Rus (418 kills, 35 aces, 280 digs, 10 blocks), Madallyn Lorang (202 kills, 51 aces, 31 assists, 283 digs, five blocks), Taryn Hegg (122 kills, 68 digs, 21 aces, 19 blocks), Brooklyn Bosma (61 kills, 22 aces, 99 digs, 12 blocks), Maggie Overbay (39 kills, 17 digs, 15 blocks), Alyssa Johnson (33 aces, 34 kills, 688 assists, 288 digs), Alexis Hauge (346 digs, eight aces).

Notes: Mount Vernon/Plankinton is making its first state volleyball tourney appearance since 2015. … MVP coach Darcy Deinert surpassed 500 career coaching wins earlier this season. … MVP hasn’t played Dakota Valley since the 2014 state tournament, a 3-0 Dakota Valley sweep. … MVP senior Reagan Rus will play college basketball at Northern State University. 

No. 2 Hamlin (24-1)

Coach: Ashley Heinrich 

Key players: Addie Neuendorf (380 kills, 50 aces, 24 assists, 17 blocks, 378 digs), Addie Steffensen (272 kills, 37 aces, 311 digs, 26 blocks, 36 assists), Jo Steffensen (139 kills, 48 aces, 301 digs, 26 assists), Addelyn Jensen (83 kills, 28 digs, 31 blocks), Kayde Nebel (72 kills, 34 blocks, 37 digs), Issie Steffensen (82 kills, 51 aces, 12 blocks, 151 digs), Cadence Moeller (35 aces, 59 digs).

Notes: Hamlin is making its first state volleyball tourney berth since 2021. … Hamlin edged Sioux Valley, 3-2, on Oct. 8. … Hamlin’s lone defeat was against Class A tourney team Dell Rapids, 2-0. 

No. 7 Sioux Valley (24-6)

Coach: Jill Vincent 

Key players: Kaedyn Sapp (50 aces, 319 kills, 347 digs, 35 assists, 34 blocks), Adison Renkly (53 aces, 316 kills, 253 digs, 103 blocks), Lacey Langland (153 kills, 66 digs, 49 blocks, 20 aces), Keyra Kruse (117 kills, 20 aces, 60 blocks, 53 digs), Emma Gorvin (32 aces, 127 kills, 48 blocks, 197 digs), Sunny Hesby (29 aces, 513 assists, 126 digs), Machaela Gerasch (seven aces, 404 assists, 143 digs). 

Notes: The Cossacks are making their first state volleyball appearance since 2017. … Sioux Valley lost to Hamlin, 3-2, on Oct. 8. 

No. 3 Dell Rapids (29-3)

Coach: Erica Fersdahl

Key players: Madelynn Henry (41 aces, 426 kills, 28 blocks, 166 digs), Lauryn Kloth (19 aces, 210 kills, 44 digs, 72 blocks), Karlie Ingalls (56 aces, 136 kills, 162 digs), Sophi Randall (133 kills, 50 aces, 801 assists, 62 blocks, 218 digs), Peyton Hohn (79 kills, 35 blocks, 12 digs), Alaina Wolff (36 aces, 240 digs). 

Notes: Dell Rapids is making back-to-back Class A state volleyball tournament appearances. … Dell Rapids’ three losses are against state tournament qualifiers Chester, Sioux Falls Christian and Dakota Valley. … A 6-foot middle hitter, Sophi Randall will play college volleyball at Illinois. … The Quarriers have no previous matches against Winner. 

No. 6 Winner (26-6)

Coach: Jaime Keiser 

Key players: Keelie Kuil (301 kills, 25 blocks, 282 digs), Livvy Audiss (233 kills, 16 blocks, 233 digs), Lilly Barfuss (192 kills, 81 digs, 42 blocks), Payton Sargent (131 kills, 40 blocks, 53 digs), Tessa Sieh (61 kills, 43 blocks, 31 digs). 

Notes: Winner is playing in its first state tournament since 2021. … The Warriors have no previous matches against Dell Rapids.