Editor’s Note: 605 Sports will unveil team preview capsules on all volleyball classes leading up to the 2022 season openers. The information provided was submitted by coaches in response to an email sent by 605 Sports. 

By Jacob Wuertz and Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Sioux Falls O’Gorman can make history with another state championship this fall.

The Knights have claimed two straight Class AA state volleyball titles and no team has won three straight in the class. O’Gorman begins the season No. 1 in the preseason poll, receiving 12 of the 13 first-place votes. 

Sioux Falls Washington, which finished as Class AA runner-ups last season, received the other first-place vote and is No. 2 in the preseason rankings. Brandon Valley, Harrisburg and Sioux Falls Jefferson were No. 3-5 in the poll. 

Team capsules (listed in alphabetical order): 

Huron

Coach: Joshua Lien

Last year’s record: 15-12 (6th place finish at Class AA state tournament)

Key returnees: Bryn Huber, senior; Brynn Gose, senior; Heavan Gainey, senior; Karsyn Kopfmann, senior; Hamtyn Heinz, junior.

Top newcomers: Ella Schoenhard, freshman.

Outlook: Huron brings back several key players that were influential in the Tigers run to a sixth place finish at the Class AA state tournament last season. Libero Bryn Huber (727 career digs) returns for her third year as a starter, while Brynn Gose (435 career kills, 300 digs), Heavan Gainey (134 kills, 39 blocks, 156 digs, 10 aces), Karsyn Kopfman (57 blocks, 97 kills), and Hamtyn Heinz (700 assists, 37 aces) will also provide experience for the Tigers. Coach Joshua Lien noted that the experience, character, and leadership of the senior class will be the strength of the team. Lien said, “We plan to bring discipline and effort again this season to the court so that we can keep pace with teams that have height advantages over us.”  

Mitchell

Coach: Deb Thill

Last year’s record: 11-13 (lost to Harrisburg in SoDak 16, 3-0)

Key returnees: Lizzie Tyler, senior; Taylor Giblin, senior; Jurzee Gregg, senior; Paige Guthmiller, junior; Sawyer Stoebner, junior.

Top newcomers: Ava Brannan, sophomore; Addie Siemsen, freshman.

Outlook: Mitchell will look to improve in the win column this season, and will have plenty of experience back to help with that effort. The Kernels will be led by all-state and all-conference selection Lizzie Tyler, but will also see major contributions from Taylor Giblin, Jurzee Gregg, Paige Guthmiller, and Sawyer Stoebner. Head Coach Deb Thill noted, “We will need to rely on defense and ball control to be successful.” 

O’Gorman

Coach: Cale Hecht

Last year’s record: 23-4 (Class AA state champions)

Key returnees: Bergen Reilly, senior; Brogan Beck, senior; Gabby Jones, senior.

Top newcomers: Brenna Beck, sophomore; Keira McManus, sophomore.

Outlook: The Class AA defending champions from O’Gorman will once again be a top title contender in 2022. The Knights return several key contributors and will be led by Bergen Reilly, who has put together a decorated prep career. Reilly is a University of Nebraska commit, a gold medal winner and MVP on the USA U19 Team at the Pan American Games and a two-time South Dakota Gatorade player of the year, among other accolades. The Knights will also be led by South Dakota State commit Brogan Beck (17 solo blocks) and Augustana commit Gabby Jones (426 digs). Second year coach Cale Hecht said, “We have a lot of key returning players that played a big role last year. With it being a new season, we’ll have some big changes where people are playing to fill spots that we need. We return 4 DS’s that will help fuel the defensive effort of our team and that will be a backbone for our season.”  

Watertown

Coach: Rosemary Bellum

Last year’s record: 10-17

Key returnees: Kendall Paulson, senior; Maddy Rohde, senior; Emily Tisher, junior; Eve Hauger, junior.

Top newcomers: Miranda Falconer, junior; Emery Thury, sophomore; Grace Corey, sophomore.