Harrisburg can do something unprecedented this season.

The Tigers have claimed the last two Class AA state volleyball championships, and a third straight would be the first-ever three-peat in the state’s largest class. 

Harrisburg returns plenty of firepower from last season’s title run and was the unanimous No. 1 in the preseason poll. The Tigers garnered all 12 first-place votes in the preseason rankings.

Sioux Falls O’Gorman and Sioux Falls Washington were second and third, respectively, in the preseason poll. Watertown and Sioux Falls Jefferson rounded out the top-five teams. 

Storylines to watch

Harrisburg inches closer to 50 straight wins: Harrisburg is nearing a milestone mark. The Tigers went 31-0 last season and finished with 16 straight victories to end the 2022 campaign. The two-time defending Class AA state champs need three consecutive wins to equal 50 straight victories. Harrisburg hasn’t lost since Oct. 4, 2022 vs. Western Christian, Iowa, while its last loss against a South Dakota opponent was Sept. 22, 2022 vs. Sioux Falls Lincoln. 

Who will challenge the Tigers?: While Harrisburg is the prohibitive favorite, Class AA is always stacked with talented contenders and the Sioux Falls metro teams will likely present the biggest challenge. O’Gorman and Washington both return all-staters, while Eastern South Dakota Conference member Watertown will also be in the hunt. 

Players to watch

Gabi Zachariasen, Harrisburg: A 6-foot outside hitter, Zachariasen headlines Harrisburg’s potent lineup. Zachariasen was the South Dakota Gatorade volleyball player of the year in 2023, as a sophomore. She registered 529 kills, 238 digs, 31 blocks, 26 aces and 327 receptions, posting a 91.3 serve-receive percentage. A Class AA all-state first-team selection, Zachariasen set the school record for single-season kills in 2023. Zachariasen has verbally committed to play college volleyball at the University of South Dakota.  

Maggie Meister, Harrisburg: A 5-foot-7 senior libero, Meister was a first-team all-state selection in 2023. She totaled 530 digs and 40 aces. Meister has verbally committed to play college volleyball at South Dakota State. 

Emery Thury, Watertown: A 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter, Thury totaled 375 kills, 303 digs and 53 aces last season. Thury was a first-team all-state selection and will play college volleyball at St. Cloud State. 

Kyra Hermanson, O’Gorman: A 5-foot-10 senior setter, Hermanson recorded 614 assists, 189 digs and 119 kills last season. She was a first-team all-state selection. 

Tatum Beckman, O’Gorman: A 5-foot-10 sophomore outside hitter/setter, Beckman joins the Knights from Sioux Falls Lutheran. Beckman was a Class B honorable mention all-state selection last season. As a freshman, she logged 337 assists, 370 kills, 224 digs and 81 aces. 

Taryn Kirsch, Washington: A 5-foot-10 senior libero, Kirsch logged 522 digs, 104 assists and 68 aces last season. A first-team all-state selection, Kirsch will play college volleyball at Division I Illinois. 

Josalyn Samuels, Harrisburg: Just a freshman, Samuels engineers Harrisburg’s offensive attack at the setter position. A second-team all-state selection last season, Samuels dished out a school-record 1,054 assists and added 191 digs last year.