SIOUX FALLS — Chester outlasted Warner in a five-set thriller to win last season’s Class B state volleyball championship. 

The Flyers and Monarchs are again back in the eight-team field, along with a host of teams from last season’s 2023 state tournament. In addition to Chester and Warner, Castlewood, Burke, Colman-Egan and Gayville-Volin are making return trips to the state tournament. Kadoka Area and Hitchcock-Tulare round out the field.

In first-round action, Chester plays Castlewood at 11 a.m. CT, followed by Kadoka Area and Burke at 12:45 p.m. Warner plays Colman-Egan at 5 p.m. and Hitchcock-Tulare plays Gayville-Volin at 6:45 p.m., to round out the first-round action. 

Here are capsules on all eight teams in the Class B state volleyball tournament: 

No. 1 Chester (29-2)

Coach: Jean O’Hara

Key players: Lily Van Hal (93 aces, 312 kills, 601 assists, 22 blocks, 257 digs), Jacy Wolf (294 kills, 334 digs, 10 blocks, 31 aces, 248 assists), Katelyn Schut (213 kills, 44 blocks, 77 digs), Emmerson Eppard (207 kills, 28 aces, 24 blocks, 269 digs), Emilie Bleeker (84 kills, 65 blocks, 37 digs), Gracie Huntimer (462 digs, 27 aces, 62 assists), Lexi Bauman (201 digs, 37 aces, 125 assists).

Notes: The Flyers have qualified for every state tournament since 2013, and won last season’s Class B state championship. … Chester’s two losses were against Unity Christian (Iowa) and Western Christian (Iowa). … Chester defeated state tournament qualifiers Brandon Valley, Watertown, Dell Rapids and Sioux Valley. … Chester swept Castlewood in last season’s state tournament. 

No. 8 Castlewood (19-10)

Coach: Breanna DeKam  

Key players: Emerson Carter (415 kills, 40 aces, 107 digs, 35 blocks), Cassidy Kirwan (201 kills, 32 aces, 20 blocks, 289 digs), Ava Ruml (135 kills, 63 blocks, 26 digs), Claire Horn (128 kills, 19 aces, 241 digs, 18 blocks), Lilly Jacobsen (76 kills, 44 digs, 54 blocks), Dayton Knecht (27 aces, 157 digs), Ciara Kjetland (17 aces, 119 digs), Cydni Kudrva (18 kills, 73 digs, 27 blocks), Nora Solberg (53 aces, 347 digs).

Notes: The Warriors are making their third consecutive Class B state volleyball tournament appearance. … Castlewood was swept by Chester in last season’s state tournament. 

No. 4 Kadoka Area (31-3)

Coach: Maggie Thompson 

Key players: Bella Williams (430 kills, 43 aces, 284 digs, 17 blocks), Madisyn Nemecek (83 aces, 286 kills, 314 digs), Shaylee Porch (26 aces, 179 kills, 227 digs, 28 blocks), Landyn Koehn (103 kills, 26 digs, 36 blocks), Kassidee Williams (46 aces, 46 kills, 851 assists, 265 digs, 29 digs), Breezy Amiotte (40 aces, 39 kills, 222 digs, 14 blocks), Makaylan Bonenberger (24 aces, 199 digs).

Notes: Kadoka Area is making its first state tournament appearance since 1982. … Kadoka Area last played Burke in 2019, a 2-1 Kougar victory. … Kadoka Area lost to Class AA Brookings twice and Class A Hill City during the regular season. 

No. 5 Burke (33-3)

Coach: Billie Jo Indahl 

Key players: Kailee Frank (332 kills, 37 aces, 16 blocks, 297 digs), Emmie Hausmann (339 kills, 83 aces, 25 blocks, 137 digs), Paige Bull (285 kills, 15 aces, 114 blocks, 35 digs), Addi Hood (116 kills, 24 blocks, 72 digs), Olivia Bull (50 kills, seven blocks, 34 digs), Emmy Spencer (29 kills, 53 aces, 33 blocks, 203 digs, 392 assists), Kyrie Matucha (438 digs, 85 assists, 43 aces), Ava Sargent (41 aces, 156 digs, 404 assists), Bridget Eliason (132 digs, 63 assists).

Notes: Burke is playing in its fourth straight Class B state volleyball tournament. … Burke last played Kadoka Area in 2019, a 2-1 Kougar win. … Burke’s three losses were against state tourney qualifiers Winner, Gayville-Volin and Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

No. 2 Warner (31-4)

Coach: Kari Jung 

Key players: Kyleigh Schopp (28 aces, 433 kills, 61 blocks, 71 digs), Makenna Leidholt (34 aces, 258 kills, 24 blocks, 180 digs), Jaycee Jung (208 kills, 22 blocks, 219 digs), Miah Leidholt (145 kills, 40 blocks, 65 digs), Courtney Leidholt (101 kills, 17 blocks, 54 digs), Olivia Marcuson (82 kills, 20 blocks, 40 digs), Haleigh Holt (22 aces, 149 digs), Jordyn Jensen (68 aces, 480 digs) Libby Scepaniak (53 aces, 172 digs), Reagan Wood (29 aces, 126 digs). 

Notes: The Monarchs are playing in their eighth consecutive Class B volleyball tournament. … Warner and Colman-Egan last played in the 2021 state tournament, a 3-0 Monarch victory. 

No. 7 Colman-Egan (24-5)

Coach: Abigail Hemmer 

Key players: Brynlee Landis (36 aces, 399 kills, 32 blocks, 352 digs), Elaina Rhode (28 aces, 206 kills, 19 blocks, 190 digs), Finley Luze (30 aces, 170 kills, 358 assists, 56 blocks, 141 digs), Anna Zwart (149 kills, 80 blocks, 46 digs), Michoen Williamson (64 kills, 64 blocks, 28 digs), Presley Luze (34 aces, 436 digs), Kaylee Voelker (31 aces, 196 digs, 504 assists)

Notes: Colman-Egan is making its fifth consecutive Class B state volleyball tournament appearance. … Colman-Egan and Warner last played in the 2021 state tournament, a 3-0 Monarch sweep. 

No. 3 Hitchcock-Tulare (31-2)

Coach: Jordan Opp 

Key players: Katelyn Schroeder (43 aces, 404 kills, 328 digs, 22 blocks), Rebecca Huizenga (148 kills, 46 blocks, 16 digs), Ella Johnson (130 kills, 68 aces, 17 blocks, 94 digs), Lila Johnson (111 kills, 20 blocks, 174 digs, 76 aces), Cora Hofer (96 kills, 47 blocks, 37 digs), Isabel Gilbert (66 kills, 70 blocks, 61 digs, 57 aces). 

Notes: Hitchcock-Tulare is making its first state tournament appearance since 2020. … Hitchcock-Tulare’s two losses were against state tournament teams Warner and Miller. … A 6-foot outside hitter, Katelyn Schroeder will play college volleyball at Northern State University. … Hitchcock-Tulare and Gayville-Volin have not played in previous seasons. 

No. 6 Gayville-Volin (29-4)

Coach: Allison Jones 

Key players: Maia Achen (389 kills, 14 blocks, 385 digs, 52 aces), Paisley Dimmer (264 kills, 88 digs), Aliza Westrum (33 aces, 196 kills, 27 blocks, 58 digs), Jolie Westrum (18 aces, 132 kills, 20 blocks, 401 digs), Kaydon Bye (13 aces, 28 blocks, 29 digs, 89 kills), Taylor Hoxeng (520 digs, 63 aces), Britton Scheetz (242 digs, 791 assists), Ayla Dimmer (268 digs, 36 aces).