RAPID CITY — Chester is chasing a Class B volleyball three-peat this weekend in Rapid City.

The Flyers have won the past two Class B state volleyball championships, and can be the first Class B team to three-peat since Warner (2012-14). No. 1 Chester will begin its quest for a three-peat against No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area on Thursday in the opening round of the Class B volleyball tournament at the Summit Arena at the Monument. 

The rest of the field includes Parkston, Bennett County, Northwestern, Gayville-Volin, Warner and Harding County. 

In first-round action, No. 1 Chester vs. No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area, 11 a.m. MT, followed by No. 4 Parkston vs. No. 5 Bennett County at 12:45 p.m. MT in the afternoon session. No. 2 Northwestern plays No. 7 Gayville-Volin at 5 p.m. MT and No. 3 Warner plays No. 6 Harding County at 6:45 p.m. MT in the evening session. 

No. 1 Chester (30-1)

Coach: Jean O’Hara 

Key players: Jacy Wolf, Lily Van Hal, Emmerson Eppard

Notes: Chester will play No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area at 11 a.m. MT in the opening round. … Chester is playing in its 13th consecutive state volleyball tournament, and has won the past two Class B state championships. … Chester’s lone defeat was against Class A No. 1 Dakota Valley on Sept. 27 at the Sanford Pentagon. … Lily Van Hal, a Denver volleyball commit, leads the team in aces (94), assists (497) and is second on the team in kills (310). … Van Hal also has over 3,000 assists in her career. … Jacy Wolf has tallied the most kills on the team (328) and is second in assists (293) and digs (258). … Eppard has recorded 221 kills, 42 aces and 135 digs on the year as well.

No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area (26-6)

Coach: Maria Sandmeier 

Key players: Jordyn Rossow, Katie Allbee, Alyssa Kaup

Notes: Herreid/Selby Area will play No. 1 Chester at 11 a.m. MT in the opening round. … Herreid/Selby Area is making its first state volleyball berth since 2017. … Jordyn Rossow leads the Wolverines in kills with 445 and has 64 aces as well. … Katie Allbee has dished out a team-leading 757 assists and has 68 aces this season. … Alyssa Kaup has led the team in digs with 621, and is tied for most aces with Breanna Jochim (73). … The Wolverines have had multiple players record career milestones this season, including Jochim (1,000 digs), Rossow (1,000 kills), Kaup (1,000 digs) and Allbee (1,000 assists). 

No. 4 Parkston (30-6)

Coach: Brooklyn Schauer

Key players: Keeara Oakley, Finley Bogenreif, Berkley Ziebart

Notes: Parkston will play No. 5 Bennett County at 12:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … The Trojans and Warriors played in the first round of the Class B state girls basketball tournament in March. … Parkston is making its first state volleyball appearance since 2021. … Keeara Oakley leads the team in kills with 585. … Finley Bogenreif has tallied 999 assists this season, adding 361 digs. … Berkley Ziebart leads the Trojans in digs (482) and is second in kills (331).

No. 5 Bennett County (34-5)

Coach: Amy Petrak 

Key players: Reagan O’Neill, Peyson O’Neill, Macy Claussen

Notes: Bennett County will play No. 4 Parkston at 12:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … The Warriors and Trojans played in the first round of the Class B girls basketball tournament in March. The Warriors won the Class B girls basketball tournament in March, and followed it up with the Class B girls track and field title in May. … Bennett County is making its first state volleyball berth since 2006. … Reagan O’Neill is leading the Warriors averaging 13.2 kills, six assists and 1.5 aces per game. … Peyson O’Neill is averaging 8.7 kills, 2.1 aces and 8.1 digs per game. … Macy Claussen is the leading setter totaling 23.4 assists per game.

No. 2 Northwestern (35-2)

Coach: Nora Groft 

Key players: Ashley Haven, Ella Boekelheide, Lila Johnson

Notes: Northwestern will play No. 7 Gayville-Volin at 5 p.m. MT in the opening round. … The Wildcats are playing in their first state tournament since 2022. … Nora Groft recorded her 700th career coaching victory earlier this season. … Ella Boekelheide won the individual title at the Class B state cross-country meet earlier this season. Boekelheide will run collegiately at South Dakota State University. … Ashley Haven leads the Wildcats in kills (535) and blocks (82). … Boekelheide has a team-leading 918 assists and 313 digs, including 46 aces. … Lila Johnson has recorded the most aces on the team with 54 aces, adding 123 kills, 112 assists and 25 blocks as well.

No. 7 Gayville-Volin (30-4)

Coach: Allison Jones 

Key players: Kendra Beeck, Taylor Hoxeng, Aliza Westrum, Maia Achen. 

Notes: Gayville-Volin will play No. 2 Northwestern at 5 p.m. MT in its opening match. … The Raiders are making their third straight state tourney appearance. … Kendra Beeck leads the Raiders in assists (895), to go along with 165 digs and 45 aces. … Maia Achen has a team-high 351 kills, while also recording 24 blocks, 208 digs and 34 aces. … Hoxeng has a team-high 353 digs and has 58 aces. … Paisley Dimmer has totaled 245 kills, 223 digs and 67 aces. … Jolie Westrum has 204 kills, 201 digs, 32 blocks and 34 aces. … Aliza Westrum has totaled 159 kills, 39 blocks and 13 aces. … Kayden Bye has 33 blocks and 86 kills.  

No. 3 Warner (33-6)

Coach: Kari Jung

Key players: Makenna Leidholt, Jaycee Jung, Reagan Wood, Tatum Hanson

Notes: Warner will play No. 6 Harding County at 6:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … Warner has qualified for every state tournament since 2017, including back-to-back runner-up finishes. … Jung recorded her 800th career coaching victory in Warner’s SoDak 16 win over Colman-Egan. … Makenna Leidholt leads the team in kills (351) and blocks (69). … Jaycee Jung has the second most kills (303) and the most digs (416) for the Monarchs. … Reagan Wood has the most assists on the team (530), just ahead of Tatum Hanson (454).

No. 6 Harding County (27-2)

Coach: Tammy Bruha 

Key players: Kamry Padden, Mya Glines, Lexy Rolph

Notes: Harding County will play No. 3 Warner at 6:45 p.m. MT in the opening round. … The Ranchers are in the state tournament for the first time since 2016. … Kamry Padden leads HC in kills (311) and assists (429). … Mya Glines has totaled a team-leading 72 aces and is second in assists (416). … Lexy Rolph has totaled the most digs on the team with 497 and is second in aces (59).